Experts from Ireland and around the world today visited Donegal homes affected by Mica to see the devastation for themselves.
They are in the county for the three-day Defective Concrete conference which opened yesterday in Letterkenny.
One of the homes they visited was that of Letterkenny woman, Sharon Moss.
Ms Moss (below) gave the experts a first-hand account of how her life has been turned upside down, and how her house is, literally, crumbling.
Letterkenny homeowner Sharon Moss at her MICA affected home. (NW Newspix)
Tomorrow, the research team will gather for a workshop at the Magee campus of Ulster University to strengthen research networks and develop future research plans.
Delegates at the conference heard, yesterday, that Donegal families are planning to rent houses this Christmas to take a break from the leaks, dampness and mould in their defective homes.
Mica Homeowner Advocate, Ann Owens, says this winter is a source of dread for families in homes built by defective blocks, and some have gone as far as creating an emergency plan if disaster strikes.
Ms Owens, who works in homeowner information services, said it was “harrowing” to see that one family had created an emergency plan outlining the roles of members and numbers for emergency services.
Also at yesterday’s session, attendees were told by a senior psychology lecturer, Dr Karen Kirby, how she believes people who are impacted by the defective blocks crisis are facing serious trauma.
Dr Karen Kirby, of Ulster University, outlined the findings of a study of the impact of the defective blocks scandal on homeowners.
Dr Kirby says the research has shown there is a trauma people will experience if they are living in an affected home.
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