Their neighbour alerted them after hearing a ‘massive crash.’
A couple has been left devastated after part of their property collapsed into the River Camac sparking calls for emergency works to be carried out on the banks of the river.
The owners of the home in Inchicore say the whole building is now in danger of collapse and the cost of fixing it could exceed €100,000.
Ellen Blehein and her husband Robert Somerville were out last Friday night when they received a phone call from their neighbour saying that their back garden and wall had fallen into the river below their home.
The neighbour described hearing a “massive crash” that sounded like an earthquake.
The foundations of an extension and a conservatory have been left exposed by the collapse and cracks are beginning to appear in the floor.
The sewage system has also collapsed and waste from their home is draining into the river.
The couple are unable to use their back door due to the steep drop into the river below and their bikes have been left stranded on a mud ledge.
The couple in their 30s have described the situation as ‘catastrophic’.
Blehein told RTE News: “We were just shocked. Our foundations are now exposed from our kitchen, underneath our conservatory is literally about to wash away.
“Last night, about 1 am, we heard cracking. We have been living in the house but we can’t live there anymore because it’s not safe and it’s quite scary thinking your house is going to fall down around you.
“We’re just devastated. I love my house. I don’t even regret buying my house because I love it so much. I just want to fix it. And we can’t fix anything until they repair the river wall and we’re able to then begin mending our home.”
Cracks began appearing in their property in 2021 and they were advised that subsidence could occur. However, their engineers alerted Dublin City Council that remedial work to the river bank was required but the collapse of their garden and wall has brought new fears for the future of the house as a whole.
Dublin City Council said it is trying to establish the ownership of the collapsed wall, but its understanding is that it does not belong to them.
The council said it may carry out work in the short term if required for public safety and seek the removal of any potential flood risks.
In a statement, they said: “Engineers for Dublin City Council visited this site earlier today. We will seek to establish ownership of the collapsed wall but our current understanding is that this is not in the ownership of Dublin City Council.
“Once we have established ownership of the river banks/riparian zone, we will seek the removal of any potential obstructions that may pose a flood risk. We may carry out works in the short term if these are required for public safety.”
Feature image via RTÉ News.
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