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A group of pensioners admitted yesterday they are terrified they will freeze to death in their homes this winter.

Residents told how they are turning their ovens on to heat rooms up in Merville Court, St Helena’s Drive, in Finglas – an assisted living facility run by Dublin City Council.

George Sofflet, 81, said the heating has not been working properly for 10 to 12 weeks and he is fearing the worst.

He told the Irish Mirror: “I have grave concerns about my neighbours here. I fear some will freeze to death this winter.

“I’ve had to tell my grandsons not to bring their babies to see me because of the cold – it’s not fair we have to wrap them up when they are here.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

“We have contacted the council on a number of occassions but the issue is never resolved.”

Collette Byrne, 76, is one resident who is turning on her oven so she can stay warm throughout the day.

She told of the hardship of trying to deal with the boil water notice as well as being freezing cold during the night. She said: “I do turn the oven on – I know I shouldn’t, but it’s the only thing that will help heat up the place.

“I have to go around wearing my dressing gown over my normal clothes to get the heat into my body.

“I often wake up in the middle of the night absolutely freezing.”

Pensioner Eddie O’Keefe told how he notices his neighbours have their hobs turned on for heat while he brings some older residents holy communion.

He said: “I’m absolutely freezing, my hands are like ice blocks and I’m wearing my coat indoors.

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

“I bring a lot of the older residents holy communion and they have their hobs on the cooker switched on like Colette.

“The last few weeks I’ve had some teeth pulled and have been up freezing cold in the middle of the night.

“I can’t even rinse my mouth because of the boil water charge on top of being so cold.”

Forty-five residents aged between 60 and 90 live at the complex – one resident will turn 100 next year.

On inspection, each radiator was tepid, but not warm enough to dry a sock.

And the the residents’ hands were freezing cold despite layering their clothing. A spokesman for DCC said they were alerted to an issue with the heating system in October and this month and dealt with the matter.

He added: “Heating and hot water systems remain operational in Merville Court – however, the current issue pertains to the systems not achieving the required temperatures.

“The council have only recently been made aware of this issue and consequently met on site last week with the relevant personnel to mobilise an action plan to endeavour to rectify the issue as soon as possible.”

(Image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin)

The spokesman explained works are scheduled for this week and next week while “certain materials are currently on order and will be immediately replaced on receipt of same”.

He said: “Dublin City Council personnel called to all apartments to check the immersions are operational and we will continue with the current action plan to reinstate the heating and hot water system to its full operating capacity as soon as possible.”

However, residents at Merville Court said turning on their immersions is “costing a fortune” and they can’t afford to keep pumping money into pay-as-you-go meters.