The Southern Health Board has offered to help a woman who is living rough after she fled her corporation home following an attack by three men who knocked her unconscious.
Ms Geraldine O'Hara (38) has not returned to her house at 31 Ardmore Avenue, Knocknaheeny, Cork, since the incident on August 3rd but, together with her daughter, Denise (14), has been sleeping in their Ford Fiesta car.
Her other children, Darren (11) and Vickie (8), are sleeping in friends' homes, says Ms O'Hara.
According to Ms O'Hara, the August assault was one of a number of attacks on her family, and she is afraid to return to the house, which has been boarded up by Cork Corporation. "My house was burnt in February and I asked the corporation to find another house for us - I picketed City Hall for a while but the corporation wouldn't give us another house, so we went back into the house at Ardmore Avenue."
She said she had just finished painting and papering on August 3rd when three men burst into the house. "This gang wanted me out of the house so they could have parties there and they arrived down as I was finishing painting.
"I had the door open because of the paint fumes and they pushed it in and so I went to ring the gardai but as soon as they saw me reach for my mobile, they went for me and knocked me unconscious - they all had drink taken."
According to Ms O'Hara, her daughter Denise hit one of the gang with a bannister and the three have threatened revenge against the family. "We drive around in the car so they can't find us," she said. "Now I'm just trying to get enough money to get me and my family to England - it's only then I'll feel safe." Asked about Ms O'Hara's plight and the fact that the three children were living rough, a Southern Health Board spokesperson said the board was always concerned about the welfare of children and was available if Ms O'Hara wished to contact it.
A Garda spokesman confirmed that Ms O'Hara had reported the August 3rd incident and that it was investigating. A statement had been taken from Ms O'Hara about the incident and a file was being prepared for the DPP, he added.