Council seeks to empty buildings for fear of fire

DUBLIN CITY Council will ask the High Court next week for orders to prevent occupation of a 198-apartment complex in Clondalkin…

DUBLIN CITY Council will ask the High Court next week for orders to prevent occupation of a 198-apartment complex in Clondalkin over fire safety fears.

The three-block complex of five- and seven-storey apartments, Áras Na Cluaine at Yellow Meadows Road, was built by a company of developer Thomas McFeely. The court was told the buildings owners include Mr McFeely and another developer Laurence O’Mahony. The council has brought injunction proceedings against both men and Áras Na Cluaine Management Co Ltd.

The majority of the apartments are believed to be occupied, some by owners and others by tenants.

The court heard a fire officer believes the risk to occupants is so serious the use of the buildings should be immediately prohibited.

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The President of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, gave permission to the council to serve short notice of the injunction proceedings on the three defendants, and returned the matter to Monday.

The council wants orders immediately prohibiting the use and/or occupation of the buildings until a fire-safety management regime is in place.

It also wants a fire detection and alarm system on the ground and first floors to be repaired, tested and certified. The remaining floors should not be occupied until emergency lighting, escape signage, and fire-door assemblies are repaired. The council is also seeking to have automatic opening vents, which disperse smoke in a fire, to be commissioned, tested and certified.