Mr Justice Seamus Noonan, who described it as a fire trap, said he was concerned about putting more than 20 people out on the street when no alternative accommodation was available to them.

A High Court judge has ordered a Dublin city centre property described as a potential fire safety risk be vacated by all its residents by July 9.

A company director has been warned that he faces being jailed for six months and assets of the firm seized if are any further breaches of a High Court order baning the use of an underground car park until fire safety regulations are complied with.