Disabled nun was close to drowning
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
Her father, retired teacher Micheál Ó Fearghaíl, said they were counting their blessings even though their home, which had no insurance, had been destroyed.
“By God, we were lucky. Whatever else happened, at least Micheál hadn’t gone to bed. I can’t think about what would have happened otherwise.”
Maria has multiple sclerosis and has a brain tumour which has made treatment for her MS difficult. She is also blind.
The family home, Sallybrook House, has been flooded several times. In 2002, 18in of water entered it. In 2010, it saw about 2in of flooding. No insurer will cover the house even though the family has since installed flood walls and flood doors. The rainfall last week was so rapid that they did not get a chance to put the flood doors up.
“We are entirely dependent on the state authorities to help us out now,” said Mr Ó Fearghaíl. “I have done all I can to protect my home.”
Across Glanmire last night, Cork County Council was being praised for its speed in removing and replacing skips in estates such as Meadowbrook. However, there has been repeated criticism from locals about the un-coordinated approach to the flood relief effort by the council, gardaí, and HSE.
Leaflets are being sent to houses in the area outlining nearby homes for rent, with some people having been told it could take six months to repair their homes.
Floors have to be dug up, all wood removed and plastering, dry lining, and wiring replaced.
For many people, the uncertainty is troubling them most. Just how much will receive from insurance companies? Will the payouts cover their costs? Others who were not insured are waiting to find out what they could be entitled to from the State.
One woman in Meadowbrook, Anne O’Leary, said people were terrified. “I’m 37 years in this house and have never claimed once from my insurance company. I’ve always insured my house and its contents. But there are people out there terrifying me, telling me that I’ll only get a third of my costs back. We’ve had the loss adjustor in and a private insurance assessor also. Now, we just have to wait and see. The waiting is awful.”
