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Cracks appear in seniors' complex

Tuesday, 01 December 2009

THE cracks are already beginning to show in a multi-million euro complex in Finglas which was built just three years ago for senior citizens. Some apartments in the Brookville Court complex, which cost e7.5 million to build, have already suffered leaks and cracks – a situation that has exacerbated the elderly residents. Edward Lyness (74) explained how he has become the handyman for all those who have suffered problems with their homes. “It’s unbelievable to think that we have had these ongoing problems with these apartments and houses which are supposed to be brand new,” he told Northside People. “One of my neighbours, Kathleen Gannon, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy and is in bad health, recently came to me because water was dripping through the light fitting in her ceiling. “She was in a real state because there was a puddle of water on her floor so I turned off her lights and put a bucket under the drip. “The council came out and they shut off her heating until the problem was addressed.” Workers from Dublin City Council called out to investigate the leak at Mrs Gannon’s home and the problem has since been resolved. Meanwhile, another resident, Cora Stafford, has also suffered problems with leaks that occur each time there is a heavy downpour. “She has to put towels and buckets down to collect the water that leaks into her house,” Mr Lyness explained. “It’s just ridiculous and we are really fed up with having to live like this. “It’s not as if these apartments are 20-years-old. “There also seems to be a problem with the drainage system as every morning when I run my tap I’m almost overpowered by the smell of waste. “Some other neighbours of mine say that every time they flush the toilet in their house, more waste seems to come back up than was sent down.” According to Mr Lyness, there is also a long-running problem with cracks appearing in the walls of one of the houses within the complex. “The girl who lives there says she can almost fit her finger into the crack because it is so wide,” he stated. “She was told that the walls would have to be taken down again. “I’m fed up with complaining to the council because all they have to offer is lip service. “Most of us sold our homes and gave a sizeable chunk of the proceeds to the council to pay for our new accommodation, which has been more of a heartbreak for us at our age than anything else.” When contacted, a spokesperson for Dublin City Council said they are investigating all of the issues. “Our inspector visited one of the homes last week to assess the situation,” she told Northside People. “We had not received a complaint about a smell of waste but our inspector did call out and all works necessary will be carried out as soon as possible.”