‘I wish I never laid eyes on my new home’ – Leitrim pensioner pleads for help over foul smells

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

An old age pensioner is appealing to Leitrim County Council to address matters in her home which she feels are impacting her health.

Mary Tivnan, 74, moved into her home in Oakfield Manor, Kinlough in 2024 but now says, “I wish to God I never laid eyes on it.”

She said she is having ongoing issues with smells in her home and her oxygen levels have been detected at 86%, with Mary explaining below 88% is life threatening.

She revealed she has contacted the fire brigade on four separate occasions as a result of the odours in her home but she has now been issued with correspondence from he council asking her to “stop wasting emergency services’ time”

On one occasion an accompanying paramedic brought her to hospital where she was subsequently seen by a respiratory consultant.

Mary is particularly frustrated with the air to water heating system which she says she received no proper training in how to operate and believes it may be the source of the odours in her house.

Alarms in the house confirm the issue is not carbon monoxide with Mary adding, “I can have every window and door open and it makes no difference. People give you different advice in terms of what to do with air-to-water systems.”

The difficulties she is having with the air-to-water system are compounded by the fact that her latest electricity bill is for €307 adding, she has been told that is what a family of six would expect to pay.

Mary has made Leitrim County Council aware of her concerns but to date she says those concerns have not been addressed.

"I need something done with the air-to-water. I am constantly taking lozenges because of the dry air and I am taking inhalers more often now.”

Mary also revealed there is no air filtration system in her home and this is something that can not be fitted after the air-to-water system has been installed.

She also noted that whenever she sweeps the floor there is a “cement-like dust on the floor all the time.”

When asked what assistance she has been offered Mary said, “Councillor Eddie Mitchell has done a lot. He has written letters for me, he asked me do I want a transfer; but at my age? I have considered going to a B&B a few nights.”

Mary added, “These were supposed to be the first A-rated homes in Leitrim.”

While not as serious to her health, Mary is also frustrated by the situation outside her house. The drainage in her back garden is particularly poor and to the rear of her property is a small area of private property with brambles, stagnant water, dumped rubbish and Mary said she has seen rats in the vicinity.

Mary is also concerned about the extent of the settlement cracks in the house and this is something that her neighbour Patrick Cunningham has been in dialogue with the Citizens Information Office in Bundoran about in an attempt to get the council to rectify. He explained he fell three times in the shower, resulting in a broken thumb, before the Local Authority agreed to install hand rails in the bathroom.

A letter from a Senior Occupational Therapist who assessed Mr Cunningham’s needs noted the installation of grab-rails in the bathroom and also referred to the extensive settlement cracks throughout the living area and noted the small bedroom window is not sealed. The letter insisted, “For a home that is newly built this is unacceptable.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.