NINE Church leaders from across the island have called on the Irish Government to offer full and immediate redress to the thousands of people whose homes have been affected by the mica/pyrite crisis.
Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland bishops, and a leading Presbyterian clergyman met with Mica campaign representatives online earlier this week. Three families welcomed Bishops to their homes this afternoon to show the serious damage caused by defective building blocks.
Bishop Andrew Forster, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry, Raphoe, Bishop Alan McGuckian, Bishop of Raphoe SJ, Fr. Michael Canny, Vicar General representing Bishop McKeown Derry Diocese and Michael Doherty, Mica Redress PRO, meet with Stephen O’Donnell and his wife Lynette and Children Ethan (14), Laya (12) and Callum (8) at their mica effected home in Burnfoot in Co. Donegal. Photo by Joe Dunne 16/09/21
The church leaders issued a joint call to the government today, and said: “Housing and homelessness are recognised as key political and social justice issues of our time. In this context, immediate action is needed to alleviate the mica/pyrite crisis which is affecting the health, well-being and safety of homeowners and their families. As church leaders, we are gravely concerned at the families’ plight. While many of our impacted citizens live on the periphery of our island, it is disturbing that their basic need for good housing also seems peripheral to the agenda of our political leaders. A number of us have had the opportunity to visit some of the affected homes and heard from campaigners. Our foremost concern now is getting support for these families.”
(From left) Fr. Michael Canny, Vicar General representing Bishop McKeown Derry Diocese, Bishop Alan McGuckian, Bishop of Raphoe SJ. and Bishop Andrew Forster, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe survey the mica damage as Callum O’Donnell (8) watches on at his mica effected home in Burnfoot in Co. Donegal. Photo by Joe Dunne 16/09/21
Stephen O’Donnell and his son Callum (8) show Fr. Michael Canny, Vicar General representing Bishop McKeown Derry Diocese, Bishop Alan McGuckian, Bishop of Raphoe SJ and Bishop Andrew Forster, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, his mica effected home in Burnfoot in Co. Donegal. Photo by Joe Dunne 16/09/21
“There appears to be a disparity in the way people in our region are being treated compared to those elsewhere. Homeowners in Leinster were awarded 100% redress for the pyrite problems there. The citizens of Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Tipperary, Clare and Limerick deserve no less. This is a matter of fairness, justice and compassion.
“There may come a time for assigning responsibility for what has happened. One thing is certain, though: the homeowners are not to blame.
“The cost of repairing the damage is beyond the means of most families. The mica/pyrite scandal is now a test of our compassion as a society and of the State’s resolve to help its most vulnerable. We must move quickly to end the anguish and uncertainty for all those affected by mica or pyrite in homes that they have bought or built.”
Mary O’Regan, and her neighbour, Declan Glackin, share their plight with the church leaders at Mary’s home in Manorcunningham
The leaders are backing the affected homeowner’s campaign for three guarantees of support:
“We realise there will be significant costs involved, but the State has found resources in the past to rescue the banking sector and, more recently, to deal with the pandemic. The mica and pyrite families need our sympathy, our prayers and our help. They have our full support, as church leaders, in their pursuit of their three demands.”
The three church leaders surveyed rubble that was removed from the Breslins’ home, at Ludden, near Buncrana, after the house was demolished because of the mica crisis. The family have moved into a temporary home on the site.
The above statement was issued by:
CATHOLIC BISHOPS
Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala
Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry
Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin
Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Raphoe
Bishop Paul Dempsey, Bishop of Achonry
CHURCH OF IRELAND BISHOPS
Rt Rev Patrick Rooke, Church of Ireland Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
Rt Rev Dr Ferran Glenfield, Church of Ireland Bishop of Elphin
Rt Rev Andrew Forster, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rev Keith Hibbert, Moderator of Derry & Donegal Presbytery
