STILL COUNTING THE COST OF CAR SMASH
The damage inside Muse Salon, Limavady, after the crash on March 30. (0604SJ78) (File pic)
A Limavady businessman has described the impact of a car crash into his premises which, he says, resulted in £37,000 worth of damage, as a “nightmare”.
The crash happened on March 30 on Linenhall Street in the town at around 11pm. This week when the driver of the vehicle was sentenced for driving without due care and attention at Limavady Magistrates Court it was explained the business, called Muse, was still able to operate after the crash.
However, the building’s owner, Lee Devine said although business continued things have never been the same, and says he is still counting the cost. Mr. Devine revealed in the five months it took to have the damage repaired, he lost £17,000 in rent.
“For five months I couldn’t accept any rent from tenants,” he told the ‘Journal’, yesterday. “People come to the salon for a pleasant experience and they were left, after the crash, sitting in the dark. It was like a cave and it wasn’t nice for customers, or any of the people who work there. There was also the impact to the image of the business. A lot of money went into the shop front and how the business looked, and that was damaged until everything was repaired.”
Mr. Devine said while clients were able to continue to access the business from the rear entrance, he said it wasn’t ideal.
“It’s been a nightmare,” he said. “Our business did suffer. The day after the crash was when Confirmation was being held and we had to cancel appointments.”
While business at ‘Muse’ is now fully back on track, with the front shutter and doors replaced, along with any electrical damage repaired, Mr. Devine added: “I’m still dealing with a pile of paperwork and nothing can compensate you for the amount of time spent dealing with that. It’s been a big financial burden and the stress of that. I hope something like this never happens again.”
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Weather for Derry
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 17 C
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Wind direction: West
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