All Saints sustains serious water damage

During the record-breaking low temperatures, a number of pipes burst drenching the bottom level of the recently refurbished building.

Worst hit was the general office, where a computer and a telephone were ruined when water poured in.

The carpets and files were also drenched, while the mothers and toddlers storage room was also badly hit.

Many toys and accessories were destroyed by the water, Mona Loughlin, who is involved in the mothers and toddlers, said that they would do their best to save as much of the equipment as possible.

Pipes in the club’s new kitchen also leaked to the floor below, mercifully the sports hall and games room were both untouched.

Activities at the club had been due to recommence on January 10 following the Christmas break, however the Youth Club and Mother and Toddlers club are postponed while the clean up operation takes place.

Speaking from the sodden premises, Youth Club Secretary, Anne Butler told Times that the damage is “heartbreaking”. She said: “When I arrived on Monday I could see the condensation on one of the windows and I knew something was wrong.

“There was just water everywhere and no power, so I had to check the rooms for water damage, in complete darkness.

“At the minute we can only mop the floor as we are waiting for insurance people to assess the damage, before any serious recovery work can begin.

“The boiler burst, so currently there is no heating and no electricity in the club. We will need a plumber to fix the boiler and the pipes but obviously there is a crisis going on, so they are very busy.”

The club have hired dehumidifiers which will be placed around the building to reduce the damp as quickly as possible.

Anne said: “The heaters are coming tomorrow (Friday) we rang for them earlier in the week but the company said they are all being used.”

The All Saints Boxing club which is in the same building, suffered damage to the changing rooms and the sauna.

MLA Declan O’Loan said: “It is a big club and certain parts of it are flood damaged, there are dehumidifiers in and the organisers are working closely with the insurance company to have things rectified.”