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| Compensation call as thousands remain without power | Compensation call as thousands remain without power |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Terri-Lee Watson's son has Cystic Fibrosis which can be aggravated by cold weather | Terri-Lee Watson's son has Cystic Fibrosis which can be aggravated by cold weather |
| The first and deputy first ministers have called for Northern Ireland's electricity distribution company to provide compensation to those impacted by Storm Éowyn as 60,000 properties remain without power for a fourth day. | |
| Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly said Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks should "step up" and provide the support. | Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly said Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks should "step up" and provide the support. |
| Specialist engineers have arrived from England to help restore power, but NIE has warned it could be 3 February before all properties are reconnected. | Specialist engineers have arrived from England to help restore power, but NIE has warned it could be 3 February before all properties are reconnected. |
| One of those affected is Terri Lee-Watson from Limavady, County Londonderry - she told BBC News NI she is concerned for the health of her six-year-old son, who has cystic fibrosis. | One of those affected is Terri Lee-Watson from Limavady, County Londonderry - she told BBC News NI she is concerned for the health of her six-year-old son, who has cystic fibrosis. |
| Electricity engineers inspect damage caused by fallen trees near Hillsborough on Monday | Electricity engineers inspect damage caused by fallen trees near Hillsborough on Monday |
| Ms Watson said the power cut, which began on Friday, was a "novelty" at the beginning, but now she is concerned the cold temperature will negatively affect her son. | Ms Watson said the power cut, which began on Friday, was a "novelty" at the beginning, but now she is concerned the cold temperature will negatively affect her son. |
| "The coldness can be really detrimental to his health," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. | "The coldness can be really detrimental to his health," she told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme. |
| "A cold could sit on his chest and give him a chest infection." | "A cold could sit on his chest and give him a chest infection." |
| 'Worst-case scenario' | 'Worst-case scenario' |
| The Watson family spent Friday night in their own home, using blankets to stay warm, but have since moved out to stay with family members. | The Watson family spent Friday night in their own home, using blankets to stay warm, but have since moved out to stay with family members. |
| "We're just so lucky that we have got family up here, because there are so many people who will be stuck at home and have to just make do with what they have," she said. | "We're just so lucky that we have got family up here, because there are so many people who will be stuck at home and have to just make do with what they have," she said. |
| "He's got a nebuliser to do every day. If he didn't do that, it could affect his health; he could get mucus build-up in his chest. | "He's got a nebuliser to do every day. If he didn't do that, it could affect his health; he could get mucus build-up in his chest. |
| "It wouldn't just be a cold to him. It could be a nasty chest infection that could land him in the hospital. | "It wouldn't just be a cold to him. It could be a nasty chest infection that could land him in the hospital. |
| "The one or two days that he has missed his nebuliser hopefully won't have an effect on his health, but if it were to go on for the full week, it definitely would, and we can't take that chance." | "The one or two days that he has missed his nebuliser hopefully won't have an effect on his health, but if it were to go on for the full week, it definitely would, and we can't take that chance." |
| Ms Watson said she's had to do additional physiotherapy on her son to counteract the cold. | Ms Watson said she's had to do additional physiotherapy on her son to counteract the cold. |
| She told BBC News NI that she hopes NIE's estimate of 10 days to restore service is the "worst-case scenario". | She told BBC News NI that she hopes NIE's estimate of 10 days to restore service is the "worst-case scenario". |
| "I'm hoping that there's a good chance that it comes on any day really, or any hour possible," she said. | "I'm hoping that there's a good chance that it comes on any day really, or any hour possible," she said. |
| Call for compensation | Call for compensation |
| The first and deputy first ministers spoke about the situation in Northern Ireland at Stormont on Monday | |
| O'Neill said they "made the case very strongly to NIE that we believe there should be a goodwill payment". | O'Neill said they "made the case very strongly to NIE that we believe there should be a goodwill payment". |
| Little-Pengelly added that "these companies make significant profits every year" and it was important that support was provided in people's "time of need". | Little-Pengelly added that "these companies make significant profits every year" and it was important that support was provided in people's "time of need". |
| The ministers were speaking at Stormont after meeting with NIE and a meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive which discussed the storm damage response. | The ministers were speaking at Stormont after meeting with NIE and a meeting of the Northern Ireland Executive which discussed the storm damage response. |
| The roof was torn off the Chimney Corner Hotel, outside Belfast, in Co Antrim, on Friday | The roof was torn off the Chimney Corner Hotel, outside Belfast, in Co Antrim, on Friday |
| Little-Pengelly said that it was "unacceptable" that some are still without power. | Little-Pengelly said that it was "unacceptable" that some are still without power. |
| She said NIE was due to respond shortly to the compensation proposal. | She said NIE was due to respond shortly to the compensation proposal. |
| The deputy first minister said they had highlighted how Scottish energy companies "have been stepping up" with similar compensation for customers. | The deputy first minister said they had highlighted how Scottish energy companies "have been stepping up" with similar compensation for customers. |
| O'Neill added: "This is a difficult time for people – we're into day four [without electricity] for some. | O'Neill added: "This is a difficult time for people – we're into day four [without electricity] for some. |
| "We are pushing as hard as we possibly can in terms of getting everybody connected as quickly as possible." | "We are pushing as hard as we possibly can in terms of getting everybody connected as quickly as possible." |
| O'Neill also commended the multi-agency response to the storm and said there was "a very constructive conversation" over the weekend with the UK government about seeking additional support. | O'Neill also commended the multi-agency response to the storm and said there was "a very constructive conversation" over the weekend with the UK government about seeking additional support. |
| About 1,700 people in Northern Ireland are still without water but NI Water has committed to try to secure the connection for those affected by 10:00 GMT on Monday, Little-Pengelly said. | About 1,700 people in Northern Ireland are still without water but NI Water has committed to try to secure the connection for those affected by 10:00 GMT on Monday, Little-Pengelly said. |
| A large tree fell across a carriageway in Ballymena, Co Antrim, during Storm Éowyn | A large tree fell across a carriageway in Ballymena, Co Antrim, during Storm Éowyn |
| Power has now been restored to 215,000 properties. | |
| However, NIE Networks managing director Derek Hynes has said it will be "around 10 days by the time we complete the repairs needed to get power back to everyone". | |
| Ronan McKeown, NIE future networks director, said it's been "an extremely challenging situation" with their staff working "flat out". | Ronan McKeown, NIE future networks director, said it's been "an extremely challenging situation" with their staff working "flat out". |
| Storm Herminia on Sunday also "pulled us back a bit in terms of more faults coming in," he said on Good Morning Ulster. | Storm Herminia on Sunday also "pulled us back a bit in terms of more faults coming in," he said on Good Morning Ulster. |
| He said the majority of customers still without power are expected to be "back on by Thursday at 10 o'clock". | |
| "It's hard to be precise but our initial analysis at the minute is showing between 15 - 20,000 beyond Thursday," he added. | |
| 'Our roof flew off' | |
| The roof of Tracey and Tam McMahon's house blew off in the storm | |
| Other homeowners are picking up the pieces after damage to their properties during the storm. | |
| Tracey and Tam McMahon, who live outside Coalisland, County Tyrone, lost the roof of their house. | |
| Ms McMahon told BBC News NI that she could see parts of the roof "flying past the kitchen window". | |
| "It's hard to describe it," she said. | |
| "We didn't know if it was safe to leave the house because it was so dark, so we just had to sit tight until daylight." | |
| Mr McMahon said it felt "like a tornado". | |
| "When you go into the house, there's water dripping everywhere and parts of the ceilings that are left are getting ready to collapse," he added. | |
| A fallen tree brought down during Storm Éowyn blocks the road in Holywood, near Belfast, on Friday | A fallen tree brought down during Storm Éowyn blocks the road in Holywood, near Belfast, on Friday |
| The Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, said the UK government will offer "every possible support" to the effort to repair damage. | The Northern Ireland Secretary, Hilary Benn, said the UK government will offer "every possible support" to the effort to repair damage. |
| Ten schools in Northern Ireland closed on Monday due to structural damage caused by Storm Éowyn, the education minister said. | |
| The EA maintenance helpline has been operational throughout the weekend and received 154 reports of damage to school buildings. | The EA maintenance helpline has been operational throughout the weekend and received 154 reports of damage to school buildings. |
| It ranged in severity from missing roof tiles, fallen trees and serious structural damage. | It ranged in severity from missing roof tiles, fallen trees and serious structural damage. |
| A large tree was uprooted in Marine Gardens, Carrickfergus, in County Antrim, on Friday | A large tree was uprooted in Marine Gardens, Carrickfergus, in County Antrim, on Friday |
| In the Republic of Ireland, there are over 200,000 customers still without power, down from a peak of 768,000, as a result of Storm Éowyn. | In the Republic of Ireland, there are over 200,000 customers still without power, down from a peak of 768,000, as a result of Storm Éowyn. |
| One man, Kacper Dudek, 20, died after a tree fell on his car in Raphoe, County Donegal, during the storm. | One man, Kacper Dudek, 20, died after a tree fell on his car in Raphoe, County Donegal, during the storm. |
| Thousands of customers in Scotland are also still without power. | Thousands of customers in Scotland are also still without power. |
| Emergency contacts | Emergency contacts |
| To report faults or emergencies you should contact: | To report faults or emergencies you should contact: |
| Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 03448 920 901 | Northern Ireland Housing Executive: 03448 920 901 |
| Openreach Damages to Network: 08000 23 20 23 (Individual faults must be logged with Communications Providers) | Openreach Damages to Network: 08000 23 20 23 (Individual faults must be logged with Communications Providers) |
| Gas networks: 0800 002001 | Gas networks: 0800 002001 |
| NI Water: 03457 44 00 88 or visit niwater.com, external | NI Water: 03457 44 00 88 or visit niwater.com, external |
| Flooding Incident Line: 0300 2000 100 | Flooding Incident Line: 0300 2000 100 |
| NIE Networks: 03457 643 643 or visit nienetworks.co.uk | NIE Networks: 03457 643 643 or visit nienetworks.co.uk |