THE NEIGHBOUR of a young mother of two who died of hypothermia in Ballymun flats told an inquest she had made a number of complaints to Dublin City Council about the lack of heating in the complex.
Rachel Peavoy (30), of Shangan Road, Ballymun, Dublin, was found dead in her flat on January 11th, 2010. The pathologist found she had suffered hypothermia.
Her neighbour Linda McLoughlin told an inquest at Dublin Coroner’s Court yesterday: “I complained on nine different occasions to Dublin City Council . . . no one ever got back to me.”
Ms McLoughlin said she also made representations to her allocations officer regarding the lack of heating.
“My allocations officer said they would send an inspector over but never did.”
Ms McLoughlin said the heating was turned off every summer and turned back on again in September. However, in September 2009, it never came back.
“I had to use electric heaters as the flat was freezing . . . my ESB bill for that period was €1,300 . . . usually it would be around €300, maybe €350 for the same period.”
Ms McLoughlin said she was friends with Ms Peavoy as both their sons went to the same school.
“A few days before she died, she [Rachel] joked to me that it was warmer outside her flat than inside,” Ms McLoughlin told the inquest.
Ms McLoughlin said both her and her three sons all had flu over the Christmas period of 2009 as a result of being freezing in their flat.
“After Rachel passed away I complained further about the lack of heating. They [Dublin City Council] turned it back on for a week, maybe two, and then it went back off again.”
Ms Peavoy’s friend of 25 years, Michelle Quigley, said she had stayed at Rachel’s apartment on Shangan Road a number of weeks before Ms Peavoy had died.
“I live in Co Westmeath, so spent the night in Rachel’s flat when I was up for a school reunion in November. I decided not to have a shower at the flat as it was too cold and I didn’t want to catch a cold.
“I noticed the curtains in Rachel’s room were blowing like the window was open, it wasn’t.
“After I returned from the school reunion we sat on the couch in the living room with two duvets and a halogen heater,” Ms Quigley said.
“I kept my coat on as it was too cold.”
Ms Peavoy’s sister Leontia also confirmed Rachel’s apartment was freezing at yesterday’s inquest.
“I was a regular visitor and each time I kept my coat on as it was so cold,” she said.
“Rachel had told me she had complained several times to Dublin City Council . . . on the day we found Rachel’s body there was no heat in the flat.”
The Dublin City Coroner adjourned the case until March 24th at the request of John Keogh, counsel for Dublin City Council.
Mr Keogh said the council wished to obtain further statements.