A grandfather whose home is crumbling due to the pyrite scandal said people may chain themselves to railings to protest over funding.
Leonard Croxten, a spokesman for the 15-strong group, has been told his house is “worthless” and they urgently need access to a compensation scheme.
The 72-year-old, from the worst-affected house in Meadows Estate, Corbally, Co Limerick, has described the situation a “nightmare”.
He said: “These people are mortgaged up to the hilt, some of them are paying for a house that’s absolutely worthless.
“That’s the heartbreaking bit. There are people with small babies, small children and there are people who have tried to sell their house and can’t sell it.
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“I don’t know what to do next. Some of the local residents are talking about going up to the Pyrite Resolution Board offices in Dublin next week to protest.
“God knows what they’re going to do but they’re talking about using chains.”
The PRB is a redress scheme that will see the Government cover the cost of repairing homes.
Leonard, who lives with his wife Majella, paid IR£175,000 (€225,000) in 2002 for his house.
But around four years after the 16 homes were built cracks started appearing. Leonard has already spent €10,000 on repairs and has been told it will cost €90,000 to remove pyrite.
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He said: “With the foundations and outside walls moving so much it’s going to start dragging the roof.
“Now I’ve got that appearing in my bedroom and the next thing that happens is it will separate the ridge tiles and allow water to come in.”
Pyrite is a type of iron sulphide and a form of the material – framboidal pyrite – expands when it comes into contact with oxygen and water.
Residents paid for tests that confirmed the substance is in their homes and they were told they are not eligible for State compensation.
Leonard said residents applied for funding to the PRB last autumn and were led to believe the go-ahead was highly likely in December or January.
But despite meetings between Senator Maria Byrne, Junior Housing Minister Damien English and the authority nothing has happened since.
Leonard, who believes his home has a lifespan of about nine or 10 years, said: “Some of the others are taking their
own legal action against Homebond [household insurance company].
“Other residents are suing the supplier of the stone and some are suing the developer and he’s walking away.”
Chris Togher, 67, who lives with her daughter Amanda in the estate, said: “We’re at our wits’ end, we’d do anything at this stage. I get my pension and I have to pay a mortgage of €769 a month
and insurance of €65 a month.
“It’s a disgrace the way we’ve been left.”
