Derry Daily
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Saturday 17°CSunday 18°C

Derry Daily Derry Daily Derry Daily

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Sport
  • Features
  • Courts
  • Business
  • Health
  • Politics
  • Jobs
Derry CityEnvironmentHousingNews

Mica scandal: Fixing Derry home ‘could cost over £100k’

written by cassoscoop November 7, 2022
ShareTweet

Kate and Danny Rafferty’s Derry home affected by mica scandal

A Derry family who believe their home is one of the first cases where mica has been detected in North of Ireland believe it could cost more than £100,000 to fix the damage.

Mica and pyrite are minerals that absorb water and cause buildings to disintegrate and plastering to crack.

Up to 5,700 houses have been affected in the Republic.

“People are just blind to the fact it has come over the border,” homeowner Kate Rafferty told BBC Radio Foyle.

“It’s going to cost us a lot of money and, on top of that, if we have to move loads of stuff out of the house in order for the walls to come down, where do we put it?

“I do worry because I’m not really sure where we’re going to go or what we’re going to do.”

Danny and Kate Rafferty live on Beragh Hill Road in Derry.

They first noticed cracks forming on some of their walls a few years ago.

“It’s all bubbling and when you press your finger on the bubbles it all cracks the plaster,” said Mr Rafferty.

“When you rub it between your hands it breaks into nothing.”

The couple’s story was first reported by the Sunday Independent newspaper.

The Raffertys’ house was built between 2005 and 2006.

“About five or six years went by and we noticed a few cracks and people told me it was settlement cracks,” Mr Rafferty said.

“We got a painter out and he filled in all the cracks and then they put stuff on and painted it but a few years later the paint started coming off again.”

After paying for an engineering survey, the bricks tested positive for mica.

In 2016, an expert panel was set up in the Republic of Ireland to investigate problems with homes affected by mica and another mineral, pyrite.

Thousands of homeowners – primarily in counties Donegal and Mayo – have been affected.

In 2019, the Irish government approved a €20m (£17.2m) repair scheme.

But many homeowners said that the scheme was not fit for purpose.

Last year, a compensation scheme for homeowners affected by crumbling blocks was announced by ministers after years of campaigning and, in September, a 10% levy on concrete blocks was announced as part of the Irish government’s budget.

Mr Rafferty said he wants a functioning government in the North so victims can be compensated.

Mica scandal: Fixing Derry home ‘could cost over £100k’ was last modified: November 9th, 2022 by cassoscoop

Tags:
ballyarnettBERAGH HILL ROADbricks tested positive for micaDerrydonegalKate and Sean RaffertyMica scandal: Fixing Derry home 'could cost over £100k'NORTH OF IRELANDSunday Independent newspaper
ShareTweet
cassoscoop

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

3 hours ago

Funeral of mother and daughter killed in...

7 hours ago

Man arrested over Class C drugs seizure...

7 hours ago

Boyce hat-trick sends Derry City into seventh...

11 hours ago

Dance company loses appeal over 100% annual...

13 hours ago

Unmissable music events coming to the Abbey...

1 day ago

Derry priest faces seven more child sex...

1 day ago

New leaflet to help older people beat...

1 day ago

Man charged with possessing indecent images of...

1 day ago

Loving mother and daughter killed in Donegal...

1 day ago

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Email

Features

  • Sun, sea, spectacular views, historical charm and fabulous food. Tunisia of course

    April 5, 2024
  • Magical trip to see Santa from Belfast

    December 20, 2023
  • DD Travel Feature: Cork’s amazing The Montenotte Hotel

    April 18, 2023
  • Derry cancer survivor Noeleen McMorris reveals importance of awareness

    July 25, 2022
  • Competition! Win tickets to Northern Ireland v England Women’s Euro 2022 match

    June 17, 2022

Courts

  • Drink-driver charged to court over Derry collision

    July 5, 2025
  • Derry priest faces seven more child sex charges

    July 4, 2025
  • Man charged with possessing indecent images of children

    July 4, 2025
  • Two men in court after £1.2m cannabis find near border

    July 3, 2025
  • Two charged over huge cannabis haul seized in North West

    July 3, 2025

Donegal Daily

    Read More

    • News
    • Sport
    • Courts
    • Jobs
    • Features
    • Business
    • Politics

    Information

    • Contact Us
    • About
    • Advertise WIth Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions
    Derry Daily

    © 2025 Derry Daily. All rights reserved.


    Back To Top

    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkPrivacy policy