Lord Mayor to oversee transfer of woman out of freezing flat

THE Lord Mayor of Cork has vowed to personally oversee the case of a woman seeking a transfer out of a freezing local authority flat.

Labour’s Cllr Michael O’Connell was speaking last night after visiting Majella Cassidy, 48, at her home at Bellview Crescent, off the Old Youghal Road, to discuss her plight.

Ms Cassidy, who is in receipt of a €220 weekly disability allowance, went public yesterday after conditions in her flat became unbearable.

She admits to being afraid of freezing to death in her home and had begun sleeping on a couch in front of her fire to keep warm.

Her flat is so cold that toothpaste froze solid in the tube. She faces a stark choice every day — to either buy food or fuel.

And she said she has been waiting for a transfer to new accommodation since 1993.

She is on a range of medication for back and heart complaints and her second storey flat is not suitable.

Mr O’Connell visited Ms Cassidy in her home on Tuesday to discuss her situation.

He has now arranged for engineers to visit the flat to examine its heating system, and to check windows leaving in drafts.

He has outlined several options to her which would help her case.

Following the meeting, Ms Cassidy said she has agreed to set up a direct debit and start clearing her rent arrears.

She also handed a report from her GP which she hopes will support her transfer request on medical grounds, to the Lord Mayor at his office yesterday.

Mr O’Connell said he has passed this documentation to the relevant housing officials.

“I am glad that Majella has taken my advice on board,” Mr O’Connell said last night. “I will be keeping on top of situation to get the matter resolved.”

Ms Cassidy said she now hopes her case will be dealt with quickly.