Athy man left homeless after arson attack

AN Athy man who lived in his home for 36 years is claiming that the Council’s Housing Section will not let him return to the property after it was badly damaged in an arson attack on 31 October.

Martin Byrne was living in his Council house in Townspark, Athy when he was the victim of a fire that cost him his dog’s life.

“It was fireworks thrown in my letterbox between 12.30 and 1pm,” Mr Byrne explained.

“I think the damage is just to the hall, the stairs and the kitchen, well, that’s what the guards told me, but I haven’t been there since 31 October."

“I went to Mark Wall (TD) to get help for a new house while I was waiting for the repairs,” said Mr Byrne.

“He sent me to the Housing Office and they took the house off me, and now I’m homeless.

“They offered me another house in Athy but I didn’t want it, because the young lads who burnt my house are still hanging around, and I want to be in the other end of town."

He added: “I’m staying up near Enfield, but I have to be out on Monday or Tuesday, so I don’t know what I’m going to do.

“I’m from Athy. What am I doing up here? I want my house back.

“All my memories of the missus and the kids."

Martin’s wife Christina died in 2011.

“I’m a 63-year-old in bad health," he said. “I’m on a sleep apnoea machine and I need a nebuliser, and they’re both still up in the old house.

“He said I couldn’t go in the house until after Christmas, but I haven’t been able to collect anything.

“Remember, they killed my dog, and this has now been going on for three months.

Mr Byrne said he was initially but then lost this accommodation.

“I had to sleep three nights that week in my car ... the 16th, 17th and 18th of December I slept in my car.

Kildare County Council have declined to comment on the case.

“I don’t know what the plan is. I’m up here (in north Kildare) and I don’t know anyone.

“My plan is to get back in my house.

“My daughter does everything for me.

“I’m on heart medication, and have a hand tremor that needed treatment in Belfast.

“Now they tell me I’m getting diabetes.

“I’ve been ringing the Ombudsman, the newspapers, the radio looking for help, but they’re doing nothing for me, only promise me this, promise me that … Why they took the house off me I don’t know."

He added: “All I want is my house done up and back.

“I’m in there since 1989, that’s when I moved in.

“When the Fire Brigade took me down from the back room the night of the fire, they put me in an ambulance and it was straight to Portlaoise, and when I got out, the back door had already been boarded up."

“I’m telling you the truth, I wouldn’t lie,” he concluded.

Deputy Mark Wall has confirmed his office is assisting Mr Byrne in his quest, but Kildare County Council have refused to comment, maintaining it consistent policy of not commenting on individual cases.