Priory Hall case adjourned by Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has today adjourned an appeal by Dublin City Council against an order directing it to provide accommodation for the evacuated residents of Priory Hall.

The Supreme Court has adjourned until October a challenge by Dublin City Council against an order to provide accommodation for the evacuated residents of Priory Hall.

The delay is to allow ongoing mediation between the parties about the future of the North Dublin apartment complex 18 months after it was evacuated as a fire hazard.

It has cost Dublin City Council nearly €3m to provide security at Priory Hall and re-house the residents who were forced out of their homes in October 2011.

A High Court order means the council is obliged to provide this temporary accommodation but it is asking the Supreme Court to overturn that decision.

However at the beginning of the hearing, the court expressed concerns that the appeal could prejudice ongoing mediation talks and it decided to put the case back until October 15.

For Priory Hall resident Graham Usher the situation remains uncertain: “Nothing has been done with our homes, families are falling further and further into debt on our mortgages and it’s going to continue for months.”

Dublin City Council has guaranteed it will continue to provide temporary housing for the Priory Hall residents until November - just weeks after the appeal is due back in court.