Widowed Clare flood victim breaks down in tears after exhausted son collapses trying to protect home

A mother of three broke down in tears yesterday as she was forced to leave her flooded home to accompany one of her sons in an ambulance after he collapsed from exhaustion after working all week to protect their home.

Bridget Kinsella fought back tears as she demanded to know how Clare County Council signed off on planning permission for their house in Springfield, Clonlara, close to where floodwaters reached 6ft deep.

“Some eejit in an office OK’d this on a flood plain,” she cried out as she walked to the waiting ambulance.