STUDENTS occupying the Advanced Technology College in Dublin decided last night to end their sit-in.
This follows the presentation to the High Court yesterday of a petition by the students to appoint an examiner to the company.
The owner, Mr John Thewlis, applied last Tuesday for an examiner to be appointed to the college.
In a statement, the students said they were ending their occupation because their petition had in effect "cast a wall of protection around the college".
No creditor or other person with a grievance against the college can take any adverse action to it5 detriment, the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Education, Ms Breathnach restated her position that she has no responsibility for the Advanced Technology College. The private college has an enrolment of about 500 students.
Fianna Fail's spokesman on education, Mr Micheal Martin, described Ms Breathnach's attitude to the students as "heartless".
The president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), Mr Colman Byrne, said the Government must take responsibility for the non-regulation of the private college sector.