Priory Hall residents 'just want an end' to homeless uncertainty

The former residents of Priory Hall have said they are extremely disappointed with today's Supreme Court ruling, but not surprised that developer Tom McFeely won his appeal to the Supreme Court against his three-month prison sentence for contempt of court.

The sentence was imposed on the developer of the now defunct apartment complex after he failed to repair fire safety defects at the housing complex in north Dublin.

The Supreme Court found that he was ordered off the site and was not allowed to complete the work by the target date of November 28 last. Therefore, it ruled that there was no factual basis to find him in contempt of court.

Mr McFeely made a quick exit past a throng of reporters today, and into a waiting car.

The decision means the 63-year-old also avoids paying a €1m fine.

After the judgement today, former Priory Hall resident Graham Usher said: "Tom McFeely is responsible for over 250 people being evacuated from their homes. Almost 100 families, nine months on, have no homes to go to."

He said the Priory Hall homeowners "just want this to end", and added: "It's constant uncertainty for the residents…Families are living month-to-month and don't know where they're going to be the following month. At this stage, we just want an end to this."