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Priory Hall residents ‘no closer to a solution’

RESIDENTS OF THE Priory Hall apartment complex in Donaghmede, Dublin are holding a protest march this afternoon to urge the government, Dublin City Council and banks to work together in finding solutions to problems at the complex.

Today marks four months to the day since the residents were ordered out of their homes over fire safety concerns and the residents’ committee says they are no closer to finding a solution.

The residents are being housed elsewhere by Dublin City Council, though it has appealed to the Supreme Court for this responsibility to be transferred away from the council. DCC says that the alternative accommodation has cost €700,000 to date.

Graham User of the resident’s committee told TheJournal.ie that no work is being carried out on the complex to address the serious safety concerns raised over the danger of fire spreading quickly through the complex.

The Priory Hall Residents Committee accuses Dublin City Council of failing to take responsibility over the development of the complex without its compliance with building control regulations. Usher says that residents aren’t looking for a handout, but want the government to take responsibility for its oversights. He says that all the parties concerned need to come together to find a solution:

We’ve said many times that we’re happy to sit down with anyone to look at any possible solution. Dublin City Council simply don’t have the funds or the power to do anything about this. It needs something at ministerial level or at the Department of the Environment level to find a solution to this.

Environment Minister Phil Hogan has ruled out meeting with the residents.

Today’s protest march is set to begin at Donaghmede Shopping Centre at 2pm and will move on to Priory Hall.

Court adjourns application for Priory Hall developer’s bankruptcy >

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Comments (24 Comments)

  • pagan 12/02/12 #
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    I feel sorry for them.But its typical Ireland when everyone in power passes the book and says its not there responsibility and the blame game starts.

    Reply
  • jimbo 12/02/12 #
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    this really shows how the state has failed people.our government only have one thing in mind and its themselves.

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  • Joe Sixtwo 12/02/12 #
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    Well if one of the”boys” was living there……………

    Reply
  • David Conroy 12/02/12 #
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    Very strange silence from Leinster House throughout this nightmare, where are the politicians ?

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    • Sheila Murphy 12/02/12 #
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      busy filling in expense forms and kissing Merkosy’s ass in answer to your Q

    • Leigh Power 12/02/12 #
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      Why should the government be involved? I thought we all wanted.to move away from parish pump politics. At most they should legislate to prevent something like this happening.

      The council need to look after this otherwise what’s the point in having a council if they just pass everything up the ladder.

  • Pa McGarry 12/02/12 #
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    To hearvPhil

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  • Pa McGarry 12/02/12 #
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    To hear Phil Hogan say that it wouldn’t be right to meet with the residents of Priory Hall tell you all you need to know about the goons in government……

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  • Paul Mallon 12/02/12 #
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    I know, they should burn the place down and claim the insurance.
    Corruption is the only way to get anything done in Ireland.
    Ireland’s politicians and councils are a disgrace.

    Reply
    • Sheila Murphy 12/02/12 #
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      lol great suggestion Paul but that’s the part of the problem here….. the insurance (Homebond) business…….. they probably say “well the homes weren’t fit for occupation anyway so we’re not paying out” ……….. or some other BS to cover their own a$$es……………………..

    • Sheila Murphy 12/02/12 #
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      . they ***would*** probably say

      (any chance of the ol’ edit facility any time soon Journal???)

    • David Conroy 12/02/12 #
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      The fire engine was put on site for a very good reason and it was not in case the residents burned it down. A certain rats problems would have been solved with a big blaze !

  • Stephanie Meehan 12/02/12 #
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    https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=272841082784209&id=208932465841738
    If anyone has an hour to spare today at 2pm, please join us and show your support!

    Reply
  • john g mcgrath 12/02/12 #
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    This is a terrible position to leave people in their dreams will be shattered but surely there has to be a class action against county council as they signed off on them and they banks relied upon the survey as to value before lending.
    Now perhaps this seems like a very simple opinion but there has to fault laid at the door of architect/engineer /bank valuer.
    It’s not only loosing homes but credit rating,moving children from old schools if they can’t find equivalent places to live.
    We spend crazy money on expenses for T D yet these unfortunate people are now faced with prospect of having to rent privately in addition to paying mortgages.
    Is feidir linn my arse

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  • Bernadette Dunne 12/02/12 #
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    Yes the very Best of luck today but more importantly best of luck in the future
    Have yea protested outside Phil hogans Constituency Office and protest our side his Dublin office also as much as yea can … Can yea put an online petition for people to sign and put same petition in paper in as many shops offices and then hand them into DAIL EIREANN and inform the press ( t.v. papers Radio stations) and get photos of the handing over and while media are recording grab your opportunity to ask your Questions and demand your rights and get your answers hopefully

    Reply
    • Declan Carroll 12/02/12 #
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      Protest right outside his house. Pile the pressure on there til he gets his finger out. Bring it home to him. If ye decide to do so, do so in a dignified manner that gets the point across.

  • Trevor Higgins 12/02/12 #
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    have legal proceedings been initiated in this case, someone needs to be held accountable fast as it was not the residents that caused this problem.cant see how a march will help

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  • Sean Herbert 12/02/12 #
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    I’d just walk – send the keys back to the bank. F*ck it – this will drag on forever & the extra depreciation will be horrendous, not to mention the negative equity before any of this happened. They’d be worth 30-40% of what they paid, if lucky. Just walk… they’re horrible apartments anyway; time to move on & stop stressing. Just rent somewhere nice & screw your credit rating.

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  • fizi_water 12/02/12 #
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    Disgrace, can someone explain to me as I don’t fully understand whole story. Developer went bust so there is nobody to pay to fix fire safety issues in their apartments right? But what about insurance, weren’t they insured to cover such event? Or is not covered by insurance? Still amazes me how many cowboy building happened in Ireland last years and how crazy money they asked for it. I think not too far from Priory Hall is another estate where they were ripping all apartments floors due to pyrite remedial works there. Cost must be crazy to fix that stuff when all is ready, how they could have missed in building process? I am not builder but looks like zero quality control. Hope someone can sort it out for them…

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