This article is from page 9 of the 2014-02-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 9 JPG
AN ENNIS man who was trapped inside his home for a number of hours by fallen trees on Wednesday says he fears further damage if storms strikes again.
Terry Hayes was sitting with his daughter and grandchildren at his home in Shallee Drive, Cloughleigh, when he says he heard a loud crack on Wednesday afternoon.
“There was this noise. I didn’t have clue what has after happening until this big tree fell down in the front of the house. Two more trees fells later on,” explained Terry.
Ennis was battered by strong storm force winds on Wednesday with dozens of trees uprooted and knocked over at locations around the town.
Terry says the family were trapped in the house for a number of hours and required the assistance of friends and neighbours to get out.
“The trees fell from a private property. We couldn’t get out. We were ringing the emergency services but they didn’t come but I understand they were probably stretched because of all that was going on around the town.
“I rang someone in the council and they told me to stay inside. I told them I was ringing them because I couldn’t get out of the house!
“I rang friends of mine and they came down with two chainsaws and cut back some of the branches. I was able to get out the front and we man- aged to get the kids out the back,” explains Terry.
Terry says the experience as particularly frightening for his grandchildren. “It was a very scary experience, especially for the kids. I was trying to stay calm but I was shaking inside. All of it happened in the space of 10 to 15 minutes. I’ve never seen anything like it. I have to say thanks to the neighbours for all their help,” he adds.
The trees knocked the boundary wall and damaged a car parked in the front drive way.
“There are other trees that are loose now and the fear is that if we got another strong storm like that they could fall at any moment,” he says.