A University of Limerick (UL) lecturer, who credits her husband’s snoring with helping her to avoid serious injury when a 40-tonne tree crashed through their home during Storm Éowyn, says she believes recent extreme weather events are connected to climate change.
“I definitely believe the tree falling, and all of these storms, are down to climate change as it’s not normal to have 183km/h wind speeds here,” said Maura Adshead, an associate professor in politics and public administration.
She was speaking in the aftermath of the incident in the early hours of Friday morning at the home she shares with her husband, fellow UL professor Neil Robinson, and their 22-year-old daughter who lives with Down syndrome.
Ms Adshead acknowledged “how lucky we are” after the tree crashed into her “forever home” in Co Limerick.
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The family bought the house in 2008 as a new-build. They believe at least a quarter of their home has been destroyed by the beech tree – upon which a preservation order applied. The tree in the Coolbane Wood estate was believed to be more than 100 years old.
Ms Adshead and her husband were sleeping in separate rooms because of his snoring, she explained. The couple and their daughter were awakened by a loud bang, which was the tree crashing through the roof and kitchen at the back of the property.
“We are looking at this with black humour,” Ms Adshead said. “It’s not a blessing to live with a man who snores but on this occasion we know and are thankful that our number wasn’t up.”
The tree and house blocks had landed just inches away from where Mr Richardson was sleeping. He was uninjured but covered in water as a water pipe above him broke.
Neighbours were quickly on the scene and formed an emergency line in a bid to get the family out of the house along with some vital possessions they needed.
“Our neighbours and so many friends have come to our aid with so much help and support. We are now staying in a neighbour’s house directly across the road from us,” Ms Adshead said.
She said their home was insured and that the insurance company was out assessing the scene on Saturday. The family were informed their claim will be straightforward but were told “lot of people are underinsured”.
“Obviously we can’t go back to our home as the tree has not been moved. A structural engineer from the insurance company and tree surgeons will be out at the house on Monday as a crane and winch will be needed to remove it and the debris,” Ms Adshead said.
“All we know so far is a quarter of the house is destroyed but we don’t know what will happen to the rest of the house when they attempt to remove the tree. The house foundations could be damaged for all we know.
“People have been saying to me that I’ll be able to remodel the kitchen but I loved my kitchen and wouldn’t have changed it for the world.”
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