Government must help residents

IF the Mayo landslide happened within Dublin, or in shouting distance of the capital, we can be sure the Taoiseach would have visited the devastated area long before now.

But, three weeks after the incident, the frustration of local people was evident yesterday when they the newly formed residents’ action group had to send out formal invitations to both Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and President Mary McAleese to see for themselves the scale of the damage caused.

Though 28 of the 40 families will soon return home, the future remains in doubt for the others. To make matters worse, a threat of further landslides is still hanging over the community. With their sense of security shattered, people who spent their lives around Pollothomas near Belmullet can be forgiven for feeling apprehensive.