Residents told to vacate homes due to major fire safety defects

RESIDENTS of an apartment complex have been warned by Dublin City Council that they will have to vacate their homes because of major fire safety defects in the buildings.

Owners and tenants of almost 200 units at Priory Hall in Donaghmede face the prospect of being made homeless after the local authority this week told them that they will be required to leave their homes.

It is understood that the council will shortly seek a court order to force occupants to move out. It also advised residents that they may need to seek a place on the housing list.

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council refused to comment yesterday, citing that the matter is now subject to legal proceedings.

The council had already moved tenants living in social and affordable housing units in Priory Hall out of the complex almost two years ago amid concerns over fire safety. In a letter to residents, the council said there was continuing non-compliance with fire safety regulations and inadequate fire prevention measures.

Among the problems are inadequate fire resistant material, inadequate alarms and possible defects with electricity and gas installations.

It claimed the defects had not been remedied by Coalport Building Company — the firm which developed Prior Hall — despite repeated promises to do so.

The company is controlled by developer, Tom McFeely, a former IRA hunger striker, and his brother, Noel.

Tom McFeely, was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and fined €3,000 last April over breaches of fire safety regulations at Priory Hall. It is understood Irish Nationwide Building Society has a profit-sharing arrangement in the complex but has failed to provide any funding for remedial works.

Last March, the High Court struck out a petition for the winding up of Coalport by the Revenue Commissioners after learning that the company had paid a debt of €140,000.

Last February, the High Court also ordered that 198 apartments constructed by Coalport in Clondalkin be evacuated unless a proper fire safety regime was put in place. In 2009, residents of another complex built by Coalport in Dundalk, Co Louth, also had to move out over fire safety issues.