The cracks in the walls are getting bigger

CONRAD McGEOUGH SKERRIES, CO DUBLIN

IT’S only within the past ten years that we started to notice hairline cracks forming around our home. When they progressively got bigger and bigger, my wife and I became extremely worried. Some of our neighbours have spent upwards of €100,000 to have all the bricks of their property replaced, but there’s no way we could afford that. Instead, I repair the cracks each year myself with a special compound that costs hundreds of euros and I’m up on the ladder for weeks at a time. I then paint over the seals, but it is only a temporary fix because the cracks keep coming back and are larger each year. It’s an extremely dangerous, tiresome job and repetitive job, but above all it’s a bloody nuisance. I’m in my 70s now and never thought I would have to worry about my home once my mortgage was paid off. We live in Minister O’Brien’s constituency. He has a duty to the whole country, but I certainly hope he will look after his own constituents.

We expect the Government to step in because this is a failure of standards.

These disintegrating bricks were not suitable for the job.

We don’t know what’s wrong with them yet – it’s not pyrite but it still could be mica.

We deserve a complete redress because what’s happening to our homes is not our fault. I have a feeling that the more these issues are highlighted, the more people will come forward with similar issues from around the country.

If nothing is done then it’s inevitable that all the affected homes will collapse.

We have worked hard all our lives to buy this house so we’re going to do everything we can to get this mess sorted once and for all.

‘We worked hard to pay off this house’