Residents of housing estate in Tipperary have 'found rats in their bins and gardens'

A problem with rats at a housing estate in Clonmel has worsened this year, according to a local resident.

The resident of Gort an Óir, Silversprings, near St Patrick’s Cemetery, says that approximately twenty nests of rats are located along the wall, which is on council land, at the rear of his home.

“If there are twenty nests, God knows how many rats are there,” says the resident, who doesn’t wish to be named.

He says that he caught a rat within eight minutes of setting a trap.

It had been suggested to him to use rat poison but he’s reluctant to do so in case any pets in the area are killed.

The man says he doesn’t have children but there are children in the estate, some of whom are under the age of two.

He says that his neighbours have also found rats in their bins and in their back gardens.

Because the nests are on council land, he says that he first contacted the council about the problem almost two years ago, having purchased the house about six months previously.

He claims that it took the council until February 2022 to cut back all the hedging outside his back wall and put down rat poison.

However, the problem has resurfaced this year, and the man claims he’s being fobbed off by the council.

“I contacted the HSE and they directed me to the council. The council are telling me they will do nothing about it and that it is my responsibility to get rid of the rats.

“My entire back garden is concrete and immaculate,” he says.

The issue has also been raised in writing with the council by Cllr Michael Murphy.

A spokesperson for Tipperary County Council told The Nationalist that the council is currently investigating the matter.