Priory Hall developer fined, jailed, then freed

DEVELOPER Thomas McFeely was freed from the Bridewell Garda Station yesterday evening by order of a five-judge Supreme Court after his lawyers secured a stay on a High Court order made hours earlier jailing him for three months and fining him €1 million.

The committal order was sought by Dublin City Council and made by the president of the High Court over “egregious” contempt of orders and undertakings aimed at completing urgent fire safety works at the Priory Hall apartment complex by November 28.

The committal order was made just after 1pm and McFeely was directed to remain in the court environs until he would be committed to prison at 4pm, but he was instead taken to the Bridewell Garda Station and locked in a cell.