Inside Irish family's home 'under attack' from rats the size of cats amid warning

An Irish family who say their home is “under attack” from “rats like cats” are facing the prospect of having to move out of their home for six weeks.

Kieran and Laura Ginty, who have two teenage daughters, have already spent more than €1,500 trying to rid their home of rodents.

At least 10 rats - one pictured below - have already been removed from their house at the Cul Crannagh estate in Dooradoyle, Co Limerick - but the problem is continuing.

“The Rentokil man is nearly a daily visitor at this stage,” said Kieran, who, like his wife, works as a public servant.

“He showed us one big rat he caught. It was like a cat. You could see the fur and tail. He brought it out to the van. I went out to his van 10 minutes later, and the white bag was full of bluebottles.”

Having consulted Rentokil and the council's environmental health officer, the couple have concluded the rats are escaping from the building site of the former Limerick to Foynes rail line which is being redeveloped after it was left abandoned 20 years.

It comes as councillors agreed to lobby Irish Rail for compensation for homeowners impacted along the train line which is to re-open next year.

The councillors believe the removal of shrubbery to allow the rail reopening has sparked the infestation.

However, Irish Rail has said it's found “no evidence of rodent infestation issues” in the area it is working in, and have installed bait boxes along its boundaries.

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Kieran and Laura - who bought their home 14 years ago - say the problem is leaving them “traumatised” and keeping them awake at night.

The biggest fear for the couple is that they will have to leave their home for up to six weeks while the problem is cleared, due to the smell becoming “unbearable” once poison is laid down for the animals, and they gradually die as they consume more of the toxin.

Kieran admits he is also worried that the rats may have got to his car which has been out of use for three months.

“We know people who have had rats in their car before and their car has had to be written off,” he said.

Laura added: “They get in under the car and do damage to the engine. They'd go for the wires.”

It was earlier in summer when the family first realised rats could be present in their home.

Laura said: “One of our girls was saying she heard taps on the walls of her bedroom. We thought it was the birds jumping around at the top as trees are overhanging. So we thought it was branches hitting off the window.”

However the noise continued. Kieran believes he has spent almost €1,500 on professional fees with Rentokil, rat flaps and the installation of cameras.

An Irish Rail spokesperson said: “We are continuing to engage with the residents concerned, including an on-site meeting this week, to advise and assure them regarding our ongoing rodent control measures.”

This story comes amid a warning from Rentokil about a general rise in rodent infestations in Irish homes.

Rentokil, Ireland’s leading pest control provider, has reported significant increases in rat callouts in Cork and Dublin for September 2024 compared to September last year. Cork experienced a 100% increase, while Dublin saw a 41% rise in reports of rat infestations during the same period.

Nationally, Rentokil recorded a 2.6% increase in rat-related callouts across Ireland in September 2024 compared to September 2023. The company is urging homeowners and businesses to remain vigilant and take preventative measures against the growing threat posed by rats.

Rats present a significant threat to residential and commercial properties, being widely acknowledged as the country’s primary pest concern. Rentokil emphasises the importance of implementing rodent-proofing solutions to prevent these creatures from infiltrating premises, including Rentokil’s Flexi Armour, a robust method utilising durable materials like Kevlar and knitted steel mesh to create impenetrable barriers against rats.

Colm Moore, Area Technical Manager for Rentokil, said: “Rentokil is encouraging home and business owners to be mindful of the presence of rats in their premises after a 2.6% increase in rat callouts nationwide was observed. Both homeowners and businesses should remain vigilant against the growing threat of rats.

Implementing effective rodent-proofing solutions like Rentokil’s Flexi Armour is crucial in safeguarding properties against these persistent pests. With rats seeking refuge during the colder months, businesses especially need to fortify their defences to prevent structural damage and reputational harm. Members of the public can find out more about signs of rat infestations and how to discourage their presence by visiting the Rentokil website.”

Rats are the top pest threat that premises and business owners need to be aware of as they can cause significant damage to buildings and assets. Rats spend extended periods every day grinding down their teeth on surrounding objects, and as a result, they can chew through utility lines, electrical wires, and other key infrastructure. Signs of rat activity to be aware of t include droppings, scratching noises, and footprints.