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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Belfast man catches 19 rats in 24 hours at home | Belfast man catches 19 rats in 24 hours at home |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A man who caught 19 rats at his house within a 24-hour period has said his young family have been forced to leave their home for safety reasons. | A man who caught 19 rats at his house within a 24-hour period has said his young family have been forced to leave their home for safety reasons. |
| Michael McCann, his wife Paula and two young children are staying with friends after moving out of their Belfast home. | Michael McCann, his wife Paula and two young children are staying with friends after moving out of their Belfast home. |
| They told Belfast Live their rented council house was "overrun" by rodents when they returned home from a holiday. | They told Belfast Live their rented council house was "overrun" by rodents when they returned home from a holiday. |
| The couple said their cat, who they put into a cattery during their trip, had likely been keeping the rats at bay. | The couple said their cat, who they put into a cattery during their trip, had likely been keeping the rats at bay. |
| 'Big, grey rats' | 'Big, grey rats' |
| Mr McCann told the website: "I caught eight rats in the first 12 hours of having the traps down, then another four, and over 24 hours I'd caught a total of 19. | Mr McCann told the website: "I caught eight rats in the first 12 hours of having the traps down, then another four, and over 24 hours I'd caught a total of 19. |
| "They were big, grey rats. | "They were big, grey rats. |
| "The look of them was disgusting and to think they were in our home, near our children, was awful." | |
| The couple said the rats had left faeces all over their Rutland Street house and chewed through the electric cables of their washing machine, microwave and kettle. | The couple said the rats had left faeces all over their Rutland Street house and chewed through the electric cables of their washing machine, microwave and kettle. |
| Mrs McCann said: "The house is owned by the Housing Executive and we've done our best to look after it really well despite the damp. | Mrs McCann said: "The house is owned by the Housing Executive and we've done our best to look after it really well despite the damp. |
| "But these rats are too much to cope with. They're disgusting and a danger to the health of my entire family and we just cannot stay there." | "But these rats are too much to cope with. They're disgusting and a danger to the health of my entire family and we just cannot stay there." |
| 'Ongoing rat problem' | 'Ongoing rat problem' |
| A spokesman for Belfast City Council told the BBC its environmental health team had visited the property and confirmed that 19 rats had been caught at the house. | A spokesman for Belfast City Council told the BBC its environmental health team had visited the property and confirmed that 19 rats had been caught at the house. |
| "Our environmental health officers and pest control team are aware of the ongoing rat problem at the property on Rutland Street," said a council statement. | "Our environmental health officers and pest control team are aware of the ongoing rat problem at the property on Rutland Street," said a council statement. |
| "We are working closely with the Housing Executive to resolve the issue to ensure that the property is made habitable again." | "We are working closely with the Housing Executive to resolve the issue to ensure that the property is made habitable again." |
| The Housing Executive said: "We first received a report of rats in the dwelling two weeks ago when an environmental health team was engaged and we carried out repairs to the property based on their report. | The Housing Executive said: "We first received a report of rats in the dwelling two weeks ago when an environmental health team was engaged and we carried out repairs to the property based on their report. |
| "After a follow-up inspection by pest controllers yesterday [Tuesday], we were told rats had returned to the property. | "After a follow-up inspection by pest controllers yesterday [Tuesday], we were told rats had returned to the property. |
| "We received another inspection report yesterday and more work will be carried out by the Housing Executive on the property immediately." | "We received another inspection report yesterday and more work will be carried out by the Housing Executive on the property immediately." |
| The housing body said it was discussing housing options with the McCann family, which "include a possible permanent move away from this property". | The housing body said it was discussing housing options with the McCann family, which "include a possible permanent move away from this property". |