Andrew Carey
PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins was so touched by the plight of a young mother-of-nine who was displaced from her flooded St. Mary’s Park home to a caravan in an open field that he sought the immediate intervention of Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan.
The President, who visited the areas worst affected by the recent floods in Limerick on Monday, was visibly affected by his meeting with Jessica McNamara who has three babies under two and a half and broke down in tears describing the conditions she’s been forced to live in.
33-year-old Jessica has lived in St Mary’s Park all her life and last Saturday week she had to be rescued from her flooded home along with her nine children, the youngest of which is six months old and the eldest just 14 years of age.
She told President Higgins that she now has to make a 45km round trip every day from the caravan in Cappamore to her mother’s house to make bottles for three of her children. Four of her nine children also require the use of a nebuliser.
Dressed in her pyjamas to meet the President at the Kings Island Community Centre, Jessica said she “couldn’t be anymore embarrassed” than when she was “rescued in a boat from my house”.
She said there was no running water or toilet in the caravan where she was now living and if any of the children wake up during the night, they have to use a bucket.
Evacuated from her home for over a week, Jessica said she felt it was important to meet President Higgins.
She said it gave her a boost and it was very important to do it “as the kids are sick and I really need a house immediately just to keep them warm and dry.
“I’m delighted he met me because it might push something through a bit faster for me.
Devastated by last week’s events, Jessica said that she could not come back to St Mary’s Park to live again.
“I need a house out of St Mary’s Park and I will say that to the Minister. It’s just been too much”, she said.
She said that a friend offered her temporary accommodation in the disused caravan in County Limerick but this was now unsuitable as “the children are all very sick now”.
“I told the President my story and he apologised. He was very upset over it and said he would get on to the Minister Jan O’Sullivan himself.
The President immediately spoke with Ms O’Sullivan and asked that Jessica be treated as a priority case. The Minister indicated that she would act on the request as quickly as possible.
