Irish Water must pay for flood damage, say residents

West Dublin residents have called on Irish Water to compensate them for damage to cars, the contents of garden sheds and garages after their homes were hit by flooding caused by a burst water main.

A number of residents in the Ashwood, Fonthill Road and Alpine Heights area of Clondalkin said the first they knew of the flood was when gardaí knocked on their doors at about 6 am.

While no homes appear to have been flooded, the water flowed inside a number of garages and parked cars at Ashwood Drive and flooded several garages and garden sheds at Ashwood Lawns which backs on to a green area where the water main burst.

The green between Ashwood and Alpine Heights was also flooded extensively.

Paul and Margaret Hanlon who live at Ashwood Drive said packaging on Christmas presents stored in their shed was damaged. But the presents were intact and the water did not flow into their home.

At Ashwood Drive cars belonging to Stephen and Bernie Lawlor were flooded. Ms Lawlor said she had mopped out a lot of water from the 2012-registered Renault, but seats were wet and a floor space was full of water.

Mr Lawlor said his Honda sports car had been badly affected by the water and he had jacked it up in an attempt to elevate the engine above the flood. Electrical equipment including a circular saw in the garage was yet to be tested as they were waiting for it to dry out, they said.

The Lawlors said the ground had appeared to bulge during the flood, with cracked pavements shifting and the garden wall moving. Garden gates no longer fitted and they said they would be looking at their insurance policy. But they insisted it should be Irish Water which compensates them for the clean-up and repair bill.

Water supply was restricted to a large part of Clondalkin for much of the day.

Irish Water were asked for information on the incident including who was responsible for the repairs to the water main and if the utility would compensate the affected householders.

However a reply was not forthcoming at the time of writing.