Carrick businessman's flood-hit premises reopen at Kinnego

Crews from Kinnego, Ardboe and Antrim arrived to help David Cochrane who just set up his Custom Covers firm at Kinnego Marina in January.

David, who moved his company from Carrickfergus to the south shore of Lough Neagh, moved into the Kinnego premises on January 4, the day the stores became flooded.

However, because of the flooding, his insurance company would not cover him.

David and business colleagues at Kinnego Marina had to endure weeks of flooding but now the water has receded, the local community has rallied round to help.

Although not from north Armagh, David said he has been overwhelmed with the community support. He explained that Lough Neagh Rescue crews from Kinnego, Ardboe and Antrim arrived en masse on Sunday (January 24) and spent hours of their free time cleaning his premises.

“There was about 20 of them. They brought a power washer and spent a couple of hours here. They did a hell of a job,” said David. “If it had been just me it would have taken two or three days. I can’t thank them all enough. I couldn’t have done it without them.

“I have never seen any of these people before in my life and they just gave up their free time to help me. The community has just pulled together to help me out,” he said. And now his business is up and running again.

However he was scathing of local politicians who he felt had abandoned businesses on the south shore. He pointed out how the Scottish parliament had helped local businesses financially within a week.