Posted online: Nov 27th, 2009

By Andrew Jennings
& Sinéad Flanagan

A MOTHER and her five children are living in fear of flooding, as water continues to rise outside their doorstep.
Helena Brennan in new estate Corran Ard, Athy said: “It’s up to our drive now. The garden is just covered in water. If the river goes, we’ll be flooded.”
With 14 month twins Liam and Jack, two year old Ben, Grace 10 years and Jessica 16, Helena and husband David say they are at their wits end. With the electricity cut off a number of times over the last few days and the Civil Defence bringing boats into the estate as their trucks are finding it increasingly difficult to get through, homeowners are terrified their houses will be flooded. “We’re all lost and we don’t know where to turn,” Helena says. Regretting having bought in the estate, Helen adds “sorry isn’t the word. I’m trapped!”
Athy councillor, Thomas Redmond said: “I called into every resident in the affected areas and found that as well as this being a major problem it isn’t the first time it has occurred.”
An emergency meeting has been called for all councillors in Athy this evening in Athy Town Hall at 6pm to try to rectify the matter. The Council in not responsible for the estate as the builders still have to finish work prior to this happening. Cllr Redmond says the meeting will be on the homebond on the houses with a view to the Council taking it in charge.