ESB accused of flooding lands around power station

Residents in Clonlara, Co Clare, are seeking compensation from the ESB for floods on their lands near the Ardnacrusha power station.

The residents say the company has caused widespread floods by releasing torrents of water from the hydroelectric plant over the past week.

The ESB says it had no option but to do so due to high water levels in the connecting lake.

However, a local Fianna Fáil councillor says a number of residents have been forced to leave their homes, with some houses reporting fish in their back gardens, as well as overflowing septic tanks.

Cathal Crowe is accusing the ESB of gross mismanagement, saying it should have anticipated the problem and released the water gradually over the past number of weeks.