Cllr Joy Beard among homeowners spending Storm Éowyn in emergency accommodation

Donegal county councillor Joy Beard was one of defective concrete blocks homeowners who sought emergency accommodation overnight on Thursday in the face of the threat of 130km/h winds.

The Buncrana-based 100% Redress Party councillor, who has been living in a mobile home since August while her defective blocks home is being rebuilt, spent the night in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana ahead of the status red wind warning for Storm Éowyn.

She was one of those affected by defective blocks who took shelter after Donegal County Council offered to cover the cost of hotel accommodation for anyone who felt endangered by the storm. The status red warning is in place in Donegal until 2pm on Friday while lower warnings will continue until 11pm.

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Cllr Beard said she had been fighting for emergency accommodation for defective block homeowners facing severe weather in unfit homes and unsuitable accomodation since she was elected to the council in June and had urged anyone who felt in danger to take up the offer.

“I have to be thankful to the council after pleading to them for so long,” she said. “We need to emphasise that a red warning does mean a danger to life and these families are in homes that are structurally unsafe, so it was the right decision for the council to put alternative plans in place to accommodate these families and I would like to thank them for that.”

She also thanked the Inishowen Gateway Hotel “for looking after us last night and this morning as the storm rages”, adding that the hotel, which has a generator, has offered to charge medical equipment for anyone left without power.