Mayo pyrite residents encouraged to take 'class action' against Mayo County Council
Westport councillors have called for compensation to be paid to Páirc na Coille residents due to pyrite infection
Residents of a Mayo council housing estate which was affected by Pyrite should take a class action against Mayo County Council in order to get full compensation according to a local councillor.
The reaction by Mayo County Council to the pyrite crisis affecting residents of the Pairc na Coille estate in Westport was criticised by local councillors who called for compensation to be paid to people who had to rebuild their homes.
The Pairc na Coille estate was built 20 years ago as an affordable housing scheme by Mayo County Council and the housing body Respond but a number had to be knocked down due to pyrite contamination in the concrete blocks. Many residents had to take out new mortgages to rebuild the homes and councillors said they will be repaying these mortgages for years to come.
Speaking at the May meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, Cllr Brendan Mulroy called for a compensation scheme to be put in place for the residents who he said were 'left high and dry' by the local authority.
“Mayo County Council handed out the keys to those people and as soon as their houses got pyrite Mayo County Council kept receiving the mortgage. There is an onus and duty on Mayo County Council to step up the mark.
“Money for people is tight enough anyway besides having to pay a mortgage when your house is falling down and Mayo County Council saying it is not their issue. I think it was handled very badly from day one from Mayo County Council and I hate to see a situation like that ever arising again.
“We talk about people's mental health but what people in that estate went through was absolutely shocking. All Mayo County Council seemed to be doing was keep kicking the ball down the road. “I think Mayo County Council have let the people of Pairc na Coille down very badly and a compensation scheme should be put in place,” he said.
His comments were supported by local councillors John O'Malley and Peter Flynn who both backed his calls for compensation to be paid to the residents.
Cllr Flynn added that people in the council knew about the pyrite before it was officially confirmed and felt that bringing a class action will be the only way people will be able to get compensation.
“We all know stuff was known and not dealt with and resulted in costing people a lot of money. The pyrite itself nobody could have foreseen but the knowledge of when the pyrite was in those buildings was a lot earlier than when it was officially communicated. I do think sadly a class action is the only thing that can happen and the only way they will get full compensation for what has been a scandal,” he said.