They are now calling for emergency repair works to the public land where the river wall has collapsed to ensure the rest of their home is not swept away.
Ellen Blehein (32) and her husband Robert Somerville (30), who were married in October last year, have been living in their home on Tyrconnell Street, Inchicore, since early 2021.
While they were aware of the flood risk when purchasing the property, they “never thought this would happen” and described the current situation as the “worst-case scenario”.
“We fell in love with the home, we fell in love with Inchicore, the local area and the local community,” Ms Blehein said.
Before purchasing the home, two engineers visited the site and gave no indication there was any damage to the back wall of the property, which was supported by the river wall.
When inquiring about flood insurance, they were also told that most companies do not cover flood risk in Inchicore due the historic nature of repeat flooding in the area.
The couple estimate that the damage to their home over the weekend could now cost up to €100,000 in repairs.
Ellen and Robert have had to move out temporarily from their home in Inchicore. Pic: Mark Condren
They said they first noticed some interior and exterior cracking three years ago, which prompted them to contact their insurance company.
When engineers from the insurance company visited, they discovered evidence the house was tilting as the river wall decayed.
At that point, Dublin City Council was alerted to the need for repair work on the riverbank.
Last Friday night, Ms Blehein said she and her husband were out when they were contacted by a neighbour, who said they heard a “massive bang” that resembled the noise of an “earthquake”.
“A huge portion of the back of our home, which is about 20ft wide and 20ft tall, had fallen into the river, taking a portion of our patio and the foundation of our conservatory with it,” she said.
“The photos of the back of our property, taken from another private property across from us, show the decay we weren’t even able to see from where our house sits. We can see now that it’s slowly slipping away.
“I believe there are grants available to landowners whose property lies on a river or has a river wall within it, and these grants can cover a portion of the repairs.
“We’re currently looking into that, because what we need to do is really just rebuild that river wall and start working on rebuilding our home,” she added.
The couple fear their conservatory is also about to collapse into the river and have been advised to stay out of the room by their engineer due to the risks.
The extensive damage caused by the collapse of the back garden into the River Camac. Pic: Mark Condren
They have moved as many of their belongings as they can from the back of their property and are staying with relatives while they look for ways to save their home from being completely swallowed up by the River Camac.
The homeowners also said that, while they understand their responsibility for their own property, they are urging those responsible to repair the damage to the river wall which is eating away at their home, since the river is public land.
Another issue they face is the culvert at the back of their house, which they say is at a “massive risk of collapse”.
Ms Blehein said if that collapses, it’s a massive flood risk for all the homes in the area which has caused concern for other homeowners who have experienced “severe damage” from previous flooding.
A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: “Engineers for Dublin City Council visited this site yesterday. We will seek to establish ownership of the collapsed wall, but our current understanding is that this is not in the ownership of Dublin City Council.
“Once we have established ownership of the river banks/ riparian zone, we will seek the removal of any potential obstructions that may pose a flood risk. We may carry out works in the short term if these are required for public safety.”
The OPW has been contacted for comment.
