Family’s delight as gas supply to be reconnected

Noeleen Floyd, her husband and three young children have been living in freezing conditions for a month since their supply was
disconnected.

Noeleen’s partner Kieran Haughian had explained that the metre installed by firmus had been erected on an out house wall at their Meadowbrook home.

Kieran an experienced joiner, decided to take down the unstable part of the wall and subsequently called firmus.

However firmus had insisted the couple pay more than £2k to have the supply reconnected, a sum the young family could not afford.

On Monday Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd contacted the firm to see if he could help.

Mr O’ Dowd said: “After learning of the family’s plight, I contacted firmus energy directly.

“The company were very helpful and following discussions it was agreed that they would forgo some charges and provide a new gas connection at the price it would originally have cost to just relocate the
meter.”

Noeleen said it will now cost £623 to be reconnected and she will be able to repay the money over a year. “I would like to thank everyone who helped our family though this. Everyone has been very supportive.”

A spokesperson for firmus said: “We are delighted that John O’Dowd has worked with us and the Floyd family to reach a satisfactory conclusion. We hope to have a new gas supply in place and the family safely connected within the next few days.

“Natural gas is a very safe product however our engineers have a responsibility to take immediate action where our gas pipes have been compromised, to ensure that there is no danger to people and property alike.”