Dundrum shopping centre to re-open

DUNDRUM Town Centre is due to re-open today after huge efforts to cope with the deluge that crippled the high-profile shopping outlet.

Despite the facility having 1.25 million square feet of store space on multiple storeys and over 3,000 car park spaces, just two units — the Tesco store and Rainforest Adventure Mini Golf — were unaffected by the flooding.

The centre was badly flooded when the nearby River Slang burst its banks during torrential rain on Sunday and Monday.

As a result, electricity was disconnected from the centre in order for checks and the clean-up operation to be carried out, with the Tesco unit using its own back-up electricity supply to stay open.

Last night, a spokesperson for the centre said it would re-open at 10am following round-the-clock cleaning efforts. However, some shops would open later in the day, while some, including Marks & Spencer and Next, would not open until later in the week.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that at the height of the rainfall on Monday several people made a lucky escape from the centre as the water poured in.

Speaking on RTÉ radio yesterday, journalist Mary Hallissey, from Balheary in north Co Dublin, said the smart thinking of a passing motorist prevented her from being trapped in an underground lift as the rain engulfed the centre’s car park.

“The lift doors opened and suddenly I found myself waist-deep in water,” she said, adding that the force of the water had taken an emergency staircase door off its hinges.

After noticing the potential danger to Ms Hallissey, a passing motorist smashed a thick pane of glass with a golf club to bring her to safety.