Family left struggling with disabled son after Clondalkin house vote

By Mary Dennehy

AS THE row around the selling of the council house in Clondalkin rumbles on, a family is left struggling with their 15-year-old disabled son – whom they have to bring to their local community centre to wash as they can’t get him into the upstairs shower of their home.

Heated debating took place in council chambers on Monday when elected representatives discussed a council-owned property on St Patrick’s Road in Clondalkin – and whether it should be sold on the open market or used for social housing.

The house, which councillors voted 22 to 15 in favour of selling, met the requirements of one Lucan family with special housing needs – who were hopeful that they would be placed in the St Patrick’s Road property.

Lucan Sinn Féin councillor Danny O’ Brien told The Echo: “I’m absolutely hopping mad over this decision. 

“A family that was living in the Paddocks in Lucan, and was on the emergency housing list, was in line to move into this house.

“They have a 15-year-old son in a wheelchair with huge mobility issues and they have to carry him up and down the stairs.

“They also can’t get the young fella into the shower in the house, so have to bring him to the local community centre to wash.

“It’s an absolute disgrace that a decision was made to sell this house.”

Cllr O’ Brien told The Echo that the family had to leave their home in the Paddocks in December as the landlord wanted the property back, with the family now living in temporary accommodation in Saggart.

“When this house came up this family was lucky enough to be selected, but that all fell through [on Monday]”, Cllr O’Brien said.

“It’s just one social house, but one social house that would have had a huge impact on this family – the family is heartbroken now.

“The council is buying houses up in private estates all over Lucan . . . yet they have voted to sell this house, it’s hard to understand.”

Cllr O’ Brien also claimed that the council was acting “like Trump” by building a wall between the social house and the rest of the estate, a move which he believes sets a bad precedent.