Despite changes to building rules, fire safety issues are not exclusively in the past. In one estate in Shannon, owners are being asked to pay for the recklessness, writes Michael Clifford.

Homeowners in a development which is now being patrolled by fire marshals have been told that they must come up with €400,000 in the next few weeks or “the fire officer may go the next step” towards having the development evacuated.

Homeowners in a development which is now being patrolled by fire marshals have been told that they must come up with €400,000 in the next few weeks or “the fire officer may go the next step” towards having the development evacuated.

Levon Dmitriev needs some money to save his home. Mr Dmitriev is of Russian origin, but has been living here for nearly 20 years and is a naturalised Irish citizen.