HOMES in a Mallow estate have been over-run by rats, leading to urgent appeals for the council to clean up nearby mounds of rubbish. Some families in Connolly Avenue have been forced to cohabit with rats because a green area opposite their houses is being used as a public dumping ground.

Residents living opposite the former quarry have been enduring a vermin problem for the past 30 years but the problem has now worsened.

Mother of six Eileen Flaherty grew up in the estate and this week voiced disgust that her children, ranging from 14 years old to 12 months, have nowhere to play. She added that while there is a basketball pitch in the estate children cannot access it due to the piles of rubbish and infestation of rats.

Mrs Flaherty complained that no matter where children go in Connelly Avenue they have nowhere to play.

"My child came in with a needle and syringe the other day. The window of the house can't be left open because vermin will come in," Eileen told The Corkman.

"I looked out of the kitchen window the other day and I saw the biggest rat ever.

"My children have now-where to play — out the front they could get knocked down by a car, out the back they could stand on a needle or have a rat jump at them," she added.

Appealing for a major clean up of Connolly Ave, she added that families should also be given driveways.

Town councillor Johnny 'Bottles' Griffin, who lives in Connolly Avenue described the situation as a 'total disgrace'. He said a green area, a former quarry, is now covered in a variety of rubbish, including fridges, mattresses and old furniture, which is rat-infested.

Several residents who spoke to The Corkman said they often see rats scurrying in the grounds outside their houses. However, two families in particular are being forced to live with rats lurking inside their houses.

The families have been enduring the rats in their homes for the past eight years but the problem is now intensifying.

While the families did not wish to be identified, Cllr Griffin visited their homes this week and said that action needs to be taken immediately.

Pointing out that both houses are very clean, Cllr Griffin complained that the rubbish from the green area is attracting the rats.

Rats can be heard running within the ceilings of their kitchens while many dead rats have been found over the years. Speaking to The Corkman, Cllr Griffin described how the families have to live with the terrible stench pervading from dead rats.

Efforts have been made by the families to rid their homes of the rats, but all have failed.

Rat poison is being scattered through the houses on a weekly basis. Two ferrets were purchased by one family and put through the space between the ground and first floor in a bid to kill the rats.

However, the ferrets had to be removed because while rats were being killed the stench was described as unbearable.

Meanwhile, when traps have been used residents have had to suffer the sight of dead rodents then being eaten by live rats.

This week, town engineer Keith Jones said that a meeting will be arranged with councillors concerning the problem.

- LOUISE MCCARTHY LMCCARTHY@CORKMAN.IE