Disabled nun was close to drowning

A 24-year-old disabled nun narrowly avoided drowning when 4ft of water rushed into her family’s home in Glanmire last week as she slept in her wheelchair.

Maria Ní Fhearghaíl, also known as Sr Cecilia, was rescued by her 18-year-old brother Micheál who saw the waters rise while working on his art portfolio.

At 2.30am he realised the water levels had breached the 5ft flood walls installed by his father. He raced from the mobile home where he was working into the adjacent house and found 4ft of water surrounding his sister. He pulled her out of her wheelchair and carried her upstairs where the rest of the family were asleep