Priory Hall residents 'still face homeless Christmas' after developer jailed

Those who bought or are renting Priory Hall apartments in Dublin have said the jailing of the developer of the complex is cold comfort in the current circumstances.

Priory Hall developer Tom McFeely was today jailed to three months and was fined €1m for breaching an order directing him to fireproof the evacuated Donaghmede apartments. He is expected to appeal in the Supreme Court.

Gardaí led McFeely away from the packed courtroom after he was sentenced in the High Court for failing to carry out the remedial works at Priory Hall.

President Nicholas Kearns said it would be a travesty of justice if he were not sanctioned and noted his "unprecedented disregard" for the residents who were evacuated four weeks ago today.

Residents are asking for political intervention to save Priory Hall, but claim that three requests for meetings with Environment Minister Phil Hogan have been ignored.

Speaking on behalf of the residents, Graham Usher thanked the judge but added that today's decision did not change their circumstances.

"Our futures are still uncertain and we still face the prospect of being homeless for Christmas," he said. "We're also still paying mortgages on unsafe homes."

He called on Dublin City Council, the Government and the lending institutions to find a long-term solution for Priory Hall.