FAMILY’S NIGHTMARE IN A HOUSE INFESTED BY MICE
A MOTHER-of-three, who is living in a mice infested house in Wicklow town, is appealing to Wicklow County Council for urgent assistance, saying the property is a living hell for her and her young children.
Michelle Nelson was allocated a house in Hillview estate in July when she was eight months pregnant. She is originally from Bray and has no family-ties or friends living in Wicklow town.
Michelle said: ‘ The premises didn’t have any furniture when we first moved in. I was over eight months pregnant and the only place for me to sit was on the stairs. It has been so tough on everyone.’
To make matters worse, a mice infestation in the property saw Michelle capture 16 mice over a five-day-period.
‘ They are the biggest mice I have ever seen. At one stage my daughter Lacey was up in her room when a huge mouse ran across her leg. She was totally hysterical. On top of that there is dog muck all over the estate.
The stress of the situation has resulted in her eldest child, eight-year-old Lacey refusing to live in the accommodation provided by Wicklow County Council. One of Michelle’s children is only ten weeks old and the property is still infested with mice.
‘I’m at my wits’ end. I feel completely isolated here in Hillview. I don’t know anyone and feel completely on my own. It’s left me deeply depressed. I’m on antidepressants and I have had to get my levels upped. You just feel like no one cares,’ said Michelle.
Michelle lived at the Lakelands in Bray for over eight years, but was informed last year that she would have to vacate the property by June 2019. She waited until just after Christmas to start her search for new accommodation.
‘It was a complete nightmare. I only got two viewings the whole time I was searching for accommodation. I was looking in Bray but then spread out to Greystones and Shankill. There aren’t enough properties out there. I was looking for anything – an apartment, a bungalow. I wasn’t pregnant at the time so it was only a two-bed property I was looking for, but it was impossible.’
She said rents are huge because there is such a demand for the few properties that are available.
‘Landlords aren’t interested once they hear you are on the HAP scheme. They can make more money renting out to someone else.’
Having failed to find any suitable accommodation, Michelle had no choice but to present herself and her young family as being homeless. She had already been on the council housing list in Bray for over a decade.
Michelle was provided with emergency accommodation in an Arklow bed and breakfast, which she found totally unsuitable.
‘Lacey had to sleep on the floor on the cushion of a sun lounger which we were told was a mattress. I couldn’t bathe the kids regularly because the B&B was on a water metre. We were also asked to leave the premises early in the morning while paying-guests were being catered for. We were already leaving before 8 a.m. every morning so I could get Lacey to school in Bray. I was also heavily pregnant at the time.’
As well as dealing with her pregnancy, Michelle also had to cope with Lacey’s turmoil after two close family friends were killed in the tragic Carrickmines fire in October of 2015. To compound matters another close family friend also died in tragic circumstances.
‘Lacey is a very sensitive child and those loses in her life impacted her very badly. Having to uproot her from Bray also had a bad impact. Her school, St Fergal’s in Bray, were brilliant with her and understood she was going through a tough time. The school actually supported all of us during very difficult times.’
After a week staying in Arklow, the Nelson’s were moved to temporary accommodation in the house in Hillview estate, where they have resided for the past four months.
However, Lacey, in particular, failed to settle, and now refuses to live in Hillview, preferring to stay with her aunt in Delgany.
‘We ended up having to change Lacey’s school, which is exactly what I didn’t want to happen. She now goes to group play therapy but I have been told she really needs one-onone therapy.
‘She is very upset and crying all the time. She knew no-one in Wicklow or Hillview and wanted to go back to her friends in Bray. She keeps lashing out, which she never used to do.’
Michelle said the ordeal has been terrible for her mental health. ‘She is so down and really depressed, which couldn’t be happening to an eight-yearold. She should be full of fun. It’s heartbreaking to witness. All I want is for all of us to be together living in Bray, where Lacey can go back to attending St Fergal’s.’
Wicklow County Council had not responded to a request for comment at the time of going to press.