Trapped in their own homes

 Wheelchair users in Johnstown, Navan have been left trapped in their homes, feeling scared and intimated following vandal attacks that saw railings and ramps at their housing complex destroyed.
Vandalism at the Bailis Village housing complex in Johnstown has had major consequences on the lives of five wheelchair users living there.
They say they have been robbed of their freedom and feel trapped in their homes because of “wanton destruction”.
Vandals have left one entrance to the complex totally inaccessible to the wheelchair users, while the other entrance is “both scary and dangerous.”
The wheelchair users live in their own apartments in the complex and led independent lives until the vandalism caused a serious restriction of their freedom.
Paving stones have been ripped up from the footpath and scattered around. Capping stones and railings on the ramp torn were apart and strewn all over the place.
One resident , Jane Fennessy says she feels trapped in her apartment and scared to go out.
“We cannot use the entrance we always used because the paving is ripped and the railings are destroyed.
“We have been told that in the meantime, we can use the entrance on the main road, but it is dark and I don’t feel safe,” she says,
“We don’t like using that entry point. There are gangs of unruly teens hanging around. It feels like we are running a gauntlet every time we want to access or leave our homes. We don’t know what they are going to do next, its scary. We would just like our ramp back and the safety it provides.”
“I used to go out the other entrance over to the shops on my own, but now I have to wait for somebody to take me.” she said.
Anne Cluskey says that one entrance is totally unusable because the paving has been ripped up, but the second entrance is dangerous.
“There are stones that have been thrown around and if the wheelchair hit one of them, it would tip over,” she says.
“There are a lot of young people hanging around and it is intimidating.”
She explains that the apartments are adjacent to the former Energie gym which is now closed.
“It wasn’t too bad when the gym was open - there were always people around and I could go out whenever I wanted, but now I wont go out on my own, I’m afraid to” she added.
The Mayor of Navan, Cllr Joe Reilly said that wheelchair accessibility would no longer be available until repairs had been carried out to the entire entrance.
He pointed out that the five wheelchair users have lived there for many years.
“It is disturbing that the entry point that provided a safe and comfortable entrance to their homes has been vandalised.
“Sheer and wanton vandalism are the only words I could use to describe the damage that has been carried out on that ramp. The result of which serves no purpose other than the impediment of wheelchair users trying to access their homes.”
He said he had contacted the management company of the complex and explained the situation some months ago.
“I highlighted the fact that a number of disabled people resided there and that their quality of life had been badly affected by this vandalism.
“I was given assurances that repairs would be carried out. In the meantime it was suggested that the affected residents use the entrance on the main road.
“Four months later no repairs have been carried out to the ramp or footpath and the entrance on the main road is still being used by the group,” he said.
A spokesperson for the HSE said it is very aware that vandalism at the independent living apartments in Bailis, Johnstown have been a significant cause for concern for the five wheelchair dependent residents of the apartments and the service providers over the past few months.