Council seeks hearing over orders
The residents were evacuated in mid-October after an application to the High Court by the council, which to date has incurred a bill of about €350,000 as a result of court orders to meet their costs, Conleth Bradley SC, for the council, said yesterday.
The council was concerned at the implications of the orders for the taxpayer and for its role as a fire authority.
Lawyers representing about 125 residents said they were very concerned about what was to happen to their clients in circumstances where developer Thomas McFeely had been ordered off the site and amid continuing uncertainty over when fire safety works would be done.
Martin Hayden SC, for Mr McFeely, said his client would not be involved in the council’s appeal but had his own appeal against other orders of the court, including orders committing him to prison and fining him €1m.
The Chief Justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham, said lawyers for the residents could make submissions on the council’s appeal. She made directions for the filing of legal documents and adjourned the matter for further mention to next month.
Mr McFeely’s separate appeals against other orders of the High Court will be mentioned on another date yet to be fixed.
