This afternoon, a crowd of about 30 people picketed the Castle Park development on the Dunboyne Road in Maynooth against the developers former firm which is refusing to engage with home owners who have pyrite damage on their homes.
The protesters consisted of home owners from the Newcastle Woods and Glen Abhann estates in Enfield, many of whom are originally from Maynooth.
The estates mentioned have been suffering from severe pyrite damage in recent years and home owners have been unable to receive any compensation, with the builder, Paddy Mooney refusing to deal with them.
Pyrite is a mineral used in foundation mix which expands when brought into contact with moisture. Its effects include severe structural damage to the house and repairs can cost over €30,000 to repair a standard 3 bedroom semi. It is said that over 50,000 Irish homes are effected by pyrite.
Resident of the Newcastle Park estate Elaine Fox told the Observer “we want to warn potential buyers of who they’re dealing with. Paddy Mooney is refusing to deal with us. Instead of fixing the problems in existing homes, he is building new ones”.
Paddy Mooney, trading as High Degree Construction has built many homes in the Maynooth area including the Parklands and Rockfield estates as well as developments in Leixlip and Enfield. While High Degree Construction has now been liquidated, Mason Homes, which is currently developing Castle Park, has Mr. Mooney’s son, Declan Mooney as its director.
The group picketing the development have three main aims: That all houses be tested for pyrite, that all houses are to be repaired and that all expenses already be incurred by home owners be repaid.
The campaign against the use of Pyrite has been gathering momentum in recent months. The Pyrite Action group has been very active in the pyrite campaign. Representatives, including residents from the Enfield estates have been on recent Joe Duffy shows as well as being on TV3’s Midweek program. A Prime Time Investigation on the pyrite problem will air on December 8.
-Padraig McCarrick
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I have a house in glenabhahnn no 7 the court it was my late husbands trying to put it on market cannot afford a big engineers report can you give me any advice please as to who might survey it for me and what the procedure is, we had house let and it was wrecked and now we have no option but to let it go many thanks anne price