7 cars in for repair written off by flooding

Seven cars that were in for repairs at Aidan Midas’s garage have been written off after last week’s flooding in Glanmire, Co Cork.

Another 31 cars at a garage just metres away are being examined to see if they are worth salvaging.

Mr Midas first received a text message about the flooding from his premises’ CCTV system at about 3.30am. The message said there was “trouble in the workshop”.

He arrived at his ACR Crash Repairs premises in Sallybrook to find his spray painting booth and most of his electric tools destroyed. He said the owners of the seven cars were “distraught” and have been busy liaising with insurance companies.

“Once it hits the carburetors, you are in trouble and that water got that high. All my extension leads in the garage and my tools were also ruined too,” he said.

Meanwhile, at J&R Vehicle Repairs, 31 cars were being examined for water damage. Computers were being plugged in to see what could and could not be repaired.

The garage is open for business, however, said owner Roch Cztzewski.

“We are taking in jobs as we have to keep going but all the time we are working on the other cars,” he said.

“My big question is how much will my insurance increase by? This place has never flooded before. Will I have to move out of here if the insurance costs are too high?”

Meanwhile, Clonakilty Town Council discussed the flooding crisis at its monthly meeting on Tuesday.

The county engineer said his officials will contact the OPW to fast-track the rebuilding of the devastated quay walls on Kent St and in the Kent St car park area.

It is hoped that this work will begin within two weeks.

A detailed structural survey of the bridges along the river is also planned.

The council has committed to examine the feasibility of introducing an early warning system similar to that operating in Bandon.

Mayor Cionnaith Ó Súillleabháin said the council would also explore the possibility of damming the river upstream, and creating attenuation ponds to hold back large amounts of water during flood events.