Homeless families get hotel reprieve to end of August

Five homeless families living in a Dublin city-centre hotel which is about to be sold by a receiver will be allowed remain until the end of August while alternative accommodation arrangements for them are made, the High Court has heard.

However, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan said he wants to hear more detail about the proposed alternative accommodation for the families who are living in Lynams Hotel, Upper O’Connell St. The matter was raised in the Dáil last week.

Last April, injunction proceedings taken by hotel operator Theresa Andreucetti, preventing Nama-appointed receiver Aidan Murphy taking possession of the premises, were settled on the basis of undertakings.

They included that Ms Andreucetti, who has a lease on the hotel with the previous owners before it was taken over by Nama, would vacate the building by Monday, August 1, pay €20,000 in rent arrears, and clear rates due to Dublin City Council.

Her lawyers returned to court yesterday to ask for an extension of that deadline due to the fact the five families would be homeless.

Her counsel, Robert Beatty, also said it was because Ms Andreucetti faced a possible €250,000 loss if she was unable to meet bookings between now and November that were made online.

Eamon Marry, for the receiver, said his client had made arrangements with another hotel management company that the five homeless familiescould remain in place until the end of August, while the council finds alternative accommodation.

There was also the matter of substantial rent arrears of €500,000 owed by Ms Andreucetti, he said.

The case was adjourned to tomorrow

.