Council ‘left us to live in death trap flat’
The families claim Meath County Council has done nothing despite being handed the damning report almost a year ago.
The council was given the engineer’s report last July highlighting major deficiencies in the fire safety for Riverwalk Court in Ratoath. The deficiencies in the building were such that the report’s author felt compelled to forward the report to the council in the interests of public safety.
Three months later, two officials at the council inspected the block, but the residents were never informed whether an inspection report was compiled and if so what the outcome was.
“We’re living in a death trap,” said a spokesman for the residents, Mark Fitzmaurice. “We’re relying on the local authority to help us out and not only are they ignoring us, but they have become part of the problem.”
The report identified a litany of deficiencies in the 26-unit complex that contravened fire safety standards and rendered the block dangerous. These include:
- No fire stopping going into separating walls;
- Single layer of plasterboard in roof zone;
- Joist passing over party walls;
- No vertical cavity barriers;
- No cavity barriers at floors;
- Required fire resistance of compartments has not been achieved.
Once informed of major fire safety issues, the local authority is obliged to carry out its own inspection to confirm whether there is a risk to the safety of residents. Last Monday, the Irish Examiner sent Meath County Council a list of questions about the failure to address the fire deficiencies. However, the council has refused to respond despite repeated attempts last week.
However, a solicitor representing residents was contacted last Tuesday in the first official contact from the council since the “inspection” nine months ago.
Among the questions asked by the Irish Examiner were:
- Has a fire safety inspection report being compiled in relation to Riverwalk Court?
- If no inspection report has been compiled, why has it not?
- Has any consideration been given to contacting residents under sections 19 and 20 of the Fire Services Act on the basis that the development poses a risk to safety?
- Is the chief fire officer satisfied that there is no case to revoke the fire safety certificate for the development and that there is no risk to the residents as a result of the deficiencies or shortcomings in the construction of the units vis a vis fire safety?
In recent years, the discovery of major fire risks to buildings constructed during the building boom has led to radical action from some local authorities.
In Dublin, Priory Hall was evacuated in 2011 as a result of the risks posed the residents. Last year, Dublin Fire Brigade demanded immediate remedial work to Longboat Quay on the city’s Sir John Rogerson Quay when an engineer’s report discovered major shortcomings. Instead of evacuation, the management company had to hire fire marshals to patrol the complex 24/7 until the work was brought up to standard.
Earlier this year, Kildare County Council commissioned a report after a fire destroyed a terrace of six houses in half an hour, even though the council only has responsibility for multi occupancy units.
The residents of Riverwalk Court have encountered a litany of construction problems over the last few years and are currently engaged in legal action with the developer, Saltan Properties.
The principal of Saltan Properties is Michael Ryan, who owns El Alle stud in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
In July 2013, he was found not guilty of bribing former Fine Gael councillor Fred Forsey, who is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for corruption.
In response to queries from the Irish Examiner, Mr Ryan said he does not accept that the standard of work at the complex was not up to a proper standard.
He said he is constrained in what he can say because of pending legal action pitting him against the insurer Premier and the residents.
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