Rodents are regular visitors
FATHER of 16, Billy Casey, has extended an invitation to Minister for Health, Mary Harney, to visit his home as his family are set to endure another winter without basic facilities at the Toppins Field Halting site, on the city’s southside.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, he said: “If we were in a concentration camp, we’d have better facilities”.
In June, the families living in the site were informed that finances had been made available to repair and upgrade services, and work would commence in September.
However, they were later informed that works would not commence until the new year.
Four caravans occupy one bay and provide accommodation for 18 members of the Casey family who have no hot water and share one toilet, Billy said: “This is one of the worst sites in Munster, if not all of Ireland”.
He is frustrated that they continue to live in deplorable conditions.
When this reporter entered Casey’s bay, Billy’s wife, Philomena, was sweeping away rainwater that had flooded the building, which contains the toilet, shower and utility room.
This building is hidden by one of the four caravans squashed into their bay, and Philomena explained that rodents are regular visitors: “A rat came up out the drain when one of the girls was in the shower, my children can’t live in these conditions”.
“They have to go out in the rain to use the toilet, in fear of being bitten by a rat”.
The roof is also damaged and leaking heavily onto to live electrical wires.
Billy added: “Sometimes, when your taking a shower or using the toilet, rainwater comes pouring down on top of your head”.
Philomena is also concerned about the affects these primitive conditions are having: “I have two children with health problems; one is asthmatic and another has kidney problems”.
A letter was sent to Limerick City Council by the Home School Community Liaison officer at the children’s school, which outlined the families concerns.
The couple are now at breaking point and have demanded that Limerick City Council address the problem. Philomena said: “This is an emergency”.
The Toppins Field halting site is to be demolished in two years time as part of Southside Regeneration, but Billy feels that this is not an excuse to ignore his family.
“City Hall are holding it up for some reason and they won’t connect the toilets in the caravans to the system because the place is going to be knocked”.
