Safety fears on packed halting site which was built to house just 16 families

A Navan halting site has been described as “a tinderbox waiting to explode.”  

Terrified residents of St Patrick's Park have warned there will be serious loss of life unless action is taken to resolve overcrowding and make shift power supplies.
They have warned of the danger of a major fire sweeping through the mobile homes, putting many lives at risk.
“It is another Carrickmines waiting to happen," said Cllr Edward Fennessy who warned that  overcrowding and live wires could cause a devastating fire in the Park.
Ten people lost their lives in 2015 when a devastating fire swept through a halting site in Carrickmines, Co Dublin.
Residents are also fearful that a child will be electrocuted as they play among live wires running across the ground, bringing power to mobile homes.
“There are seven mobile homes connected to one fuse box. It is terrifying - there are so many fire hazards and the mobile homes are all too close together,” says one local resident.
“If one mobile home goes on fire, it will spread to all of them.”

An aerial shot of St Patrick's Park, Navan with 13 mobile homes parked on the green. PHOTO: Drone Services Ireland.

 She said that 120 people are living on the site, which is very badly overcrowded.
“There are nine electric wires running across the park, five are in the air, wrapped  around posts and four are on the ground, with children playing around them.
She pointed out that children have nowhere to play, except on the roadway where there are wires running across them and the street lights don’t come on at night.
“The bin lorry won’t come into the estate because of the wires across the road.
“There are nine portaloos on the green which can cause a terrible smell.”

Cllr Eddie Fennessy described the situation inn St Patrick's Park as 'Dickensian'

“Most people here are on the housing list for years. There are more than double the number of mobile homes that should be here. 
“There are people parked here illegally. There shouldn’t be any mobile homes on the green, but I don’t blame them. They have nowhere else to go. I am not looking for them to be embarrassed or evicted.
“Meath Co Council should be making a better effort to provide houses and they need to come in and fix up the park. Nobody should have to use an outdoor toilet, nobody should have to use an outside tap or have to run a wire across the road,” she said.
“It seems that the council are treating us as a case of out of site, out of mind.”

Cllr Edward Fennessy said he has grave concerns with fire safety management in St Patrick’s Park.
“If not addressed soon, it could have tragic consequences for the multitude of families living there. It is another Carrickmines waiting to happen.
“I also have concerns with living conditions on site. Access to basic facilities such as running water and electricity is non-existent for many of those living there. It is Dickensian and has no place in a modern developed society.

Electricity cables running across roads are preventing bin lorries from entering the site. PHOTOS: SEAMUS FARRELLY

“St Patrick’s Park was built to accommodate sixteen families, there are almost forty located on site at present, it is a tinderbox waiting to explode,” he said.
A spokesperson for Meath Co Council said it was aware of the aware of the situation which she described “as the unauthorised encampment of a number of Traveller families on the green area within the halting site.”

Cllr Fennesy beside live cables running across the road

“Previous engagement between Meath Co Council’s Housing Department and the families concerned has failed to resolve the matter, with the unauthorised encampments remaining.
“There are currently 13 unauthorised caravans/mobile homes on the green area, though a number of vacant units are included within this number.”
She said an internal group within the Housing Department has been established to renew efforts to satisfactorily resolve the situation, and minimise the legitimate concerns that exist.
“Meath Co Council’s wish is do so without recourse to legal proceedings.
“The first step in this process has been completed, with special housing clinics taking place over the course of a number of days between relevant housing officials and the families concerned. The outcome of these assessments will form the basis of future interaction, and are currently being reviewed.”
She said positive engagement with the families located on the green area will be critical, if the present concerns are to be addressed in the short term.