Mother

The Belfast mum-of-two told how they were lucky to escape

A mother-of-two has said she has been left "homeless" following a fire at New Lodge Flats last week.

Aoife O'Reilly said she has been forced to sleep on an aunt's sofa and borrow money for a hotel while her children, aged four and one, have been separated to find beds with different family members since the blaze in the early hours of Friday.

Having declined an offer from the Housing Executive of accommodation in Divis due to travel times to her four-year-old's North Belfast nursery, along with concerns about anti-social behaviour, she told Belfast Live: "We're homeless and we have nothing".

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The Housing Executive, meanwhile, has said that after offers of temporary accommodation were declined and an appointment with a housing advisor has been arranged.

Ms O'Reilly, speaking about the fire, said: "That night we were all in bed sleeping. The children's daddy heard banging and got up, thinking somebody had got into the flat to rob the flat. He went into the kitchen and it was just full of smoke. He closed the door and came in to wake us up. He went into the kitchen and tried to put the fire out with a wet towel, but it just got worse."

"The fire brigade came and it was under control. It was completely destroyed. We were allowed back in to get a couple of things out, which wasn't really much, everything was smoke damaged.

The man spent the night in the hospital due to smoke inhalation. He was advised by firemen to see the paramedics and the paramedics took him to hospital by ambulance.

"My daughter is completely traumatised. We've been in the hostel four-and-a-half years now. It's the only home she knows. She was terrified. We crawled out, literally - it wasn't a small fire, it was huge. We're lucky he [the child's father] was there because he had to wake us up because I would have slept right through it - and God knows what would have happened."

On her current housing situation, she said: " We're homeless and we have nothing."

A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said: "On Friday 2nd June, we were made aware of a fire at a flat at one of our residential family units, which is serviced by a 24 hour concierge.

"The safety features of the building ensured damage was minimal and no one was hurt.

"Repair work is already underway and a report has been requested from the fire and rescue service."

The spokesperson continued: "Alternative temporary accommodation was arranged for the occupants and we also arranged for the collection and storage of their belongings.

"Two offers of temporary accommodation were provided to the family and both were declined - we were informed they would make their own arrangements.

"A member of our staff contacted the family on Monday morning (June 5) when they were again offered alternative temporary accommodation – again this was declined.

"An appointment has been arranged with a Housing Advisor to discuss their current housing prospects."

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