Family tells of three-year fuel contamination nightmare

More than three years ago, Brian and Jennifer O'Rourke had to move out of their Allenstown, Kells, home and into rented accommodation after their water supply became contaminated with petrol. The contamination - believed to stem from underground fuel tanks at a nearby filling station - was confirmed in the autumn of 2007, and just before Christmas that year, Brian and Jennifer and their two sons were advised to move out of the home they had lived in since 1988, as a result of health concerns following the contamination. Now, more than three years on, with the situation still not resolved, the O'Rourkes have not moved back into their home, in what has been a nightmare for the family. Another local man, Mattie Coyne, was building a house on the affected land and had to stop building after the petrol contamination was discovered in the area. He has not completed his house and says the situation has been going on far too long. Both the O'Rourkes and the Coynes feel that, as the environmental agency, Meath County Council should have done more to ensure the pollution was dealt with quickly. Meath County Council has issued statutory notices to the O'Rourkes, the Coynes and a third affected landowner requiring them to clean up the pollution on their land - as well as to the owner of the nearby filling station. The pollution was discovered a matter of months after the new owner of the filling station had bought the property. After the contamination was discovered, the O'Rourkes and Coynes engaged a solicitor to act on their behalf and civil cases are pending, but they say this civil process is being delayed as Meath County Council has not yet given details of what level of clean-up and remediation is required. Brian O'Rourke said the last three years have been hell for his family and there is still no sign of them being able to move back into their home. Mr O'Rourke explained that the first time he noticed something was wrong was back in 2007 when the family noticed there was a smell and a taste from their drinking water. He noticed tea wasn't tasting nice and then their clothes started to smell after they were washed. At that stage, they did not know what it was. It was while at work that a colleague said to Mr O'Rourke that she had noticed a smell of petrol from his clothes. He said he could not understand this because he had only put them on clean that day. The water in their home had become quite yellow and when Mr O'Rourke checked the cistern of a toilet in the house, he found there was a brown, jelly-like substance in it. His son was also feeling unwell and when his brother came to visit, Mr O'Rourke said he was always coughing and told them this happened only when he came to their house. Mr O'Rourke said he had a mild skin condition but, at that time, it had flared up. Puzzled, Mr O'Rourke took a water sample and sent it to be tested. Straight away, the company testing it said it smelled of petrol and told him to report it to the environmental section of the county council. The council tested the O'Rourkes' drinking water and the results showed there was a high contamination of the water with petrol. Mr O'Rourke was in contact with his own solicitor and testing was carried out on their behalf. Just before Christmas 2007, the O'Rourkes were advised to move out of their home as it was a health hazard to them to remain there. On 21st December, they moved into rented accommodation and have still not returned to their home, over three years on. When they realised their water was contaminated, Mr O'Rourke said they were shocked, but were glad nobody had become seriously sick. In the meantime, their family home has become delapidated as it is not been lived in. Mr O'Rourke said they cannot afford to heat and maintain two houses. The insurance company for the filling station also carried out testing and drilled bores in the area in November/December 2007 and into 2008. Mattie Coyne, who had been building a house at Allenstown, said he could not complete the house because of the discovery of the contamination. He said the council had tested the water in August 2007. Mr Coyne said he felt the pollution should have been cleaned up straight away. He said the fact that it is three years down the road and the situation has still not been resolved was very frustrating. After the statutory notices were served by the county council, the solicitors acting for the O'Rourkes and Coynes wrote to enquire as to what level the land must be cleaned up to and the council responded that it would send on the details. This, they argue, is delaying the legal process, as the cost of the clean-up will need to be included in the claims that are being taken by the adjoining landowners. Asked to comment on the matter, Meath County Council responded: "There is an ongoing case (since 2007) in relation to hydrocarbon pollution from underground fuel tanks at a petrol station at Allenstown, Kells, County Meath. This case has been, and continues to be, subject to council examination. The council, as environmental authority, is progressing a resolution to the issue in conjunction with the affected property-owners."