Relief as house fire couple learn they had cover

A retired Cavan couple, left homeless by a devastating house fire, have received confirmation that their home was, in fact, fully insured when the blaze destroyed it.

Eugene and Nadia Aleksandrov lost their home at Lakeview, Townparks, Cavan Town, after fire tore through the property on August 8.

Their son, Oleg, previously told the Celt that the family believed they had no cover, and faced the difficult prospect of rebuilding the badly damaged property without a payout.

However, following a subsequent investigation by their insurer, the family has now been informed that a policy was active.

In a letter to the family, the insurer acknowledged the “distress and uncertainty” caused by the situation, and confirmed that insurance was in force on the date of the terrible fire.

The confusion arose because a “technical error” in that a previously expired policy document remained visible on their account instead of the most current documentation. The issue has since been rectified, and the insurer's claims team is now assessing the damage and claim in accordance with the terms of the policy.

The development comes as a huge relief to the Aleksandrov family, whose Lakeview home is now uninhabitable as a result of destruction to much of the upper floors and roof.

Crews from Cavan and Belturbet tackled the blaze, and worked to prevent the fire spreading to the adjoining semi-detached property.

The fire destroyed decades of family possessions and memories, including photographs, albums and documents.

“The whole history of life, wiped out,” the couple's son Oleg told the Celt.

Following the fire, Cavan County Council stepped in to provide emergency accommodation, with Eugene and Nadia temporarily housed in a B&B in Virginia. The couple are both in their early seventies.

The family's immediate priority remains finding a longer-term housing solution, while they seek to rebuild and repair their home.