On November 28th 2006 I sent this letter to the British Prime Minister Mr. Tony Blair.

My letter was acknowledged stating that it would be sent to the Northern Ireland Office.

I didn't get any acknowledgement from that Office but received this letter from the Department of the Environment dated January 17th 2007.

The Clerk and Chief Executive of Down District Council, Mr. John McGrillen who is mentioned in the above letter, is a relative of mine. His grandmother and my mother were sisters.

I received this reply from Mr. McGrillen dated February 12th 2007.

I am retyping Mr. McGrillen's letter here for ease of explaining its total inconsistency with the facts of this matter.

"Dear Mr. Rice,

Re: Houses Built with Terralux Blocks

I have been asked by the Department of the Environment, Local Government Division, to respond to your letter of 28 November 2006 to the Prime Minister.

The houses to which you refer where (should read 'were') built under the Bye Laws made by Downpatrick Rural District Council in 1958. The terralux blocks used in the construction of these houses complied with those Bye Laws.

They had widespread acceptability and were used by various Housing Authorities, including the former Northern Ireland Housing Trust.

Currently, Down District Council is not in receipt of any complaints from the owners / occupiers of the houses in question.

Yours sincerely

John McGrillen
Clerk and Chief Executive"