Priory Hall residents’ pain continues

SOME
of the residents of the troubled Priory Hall apartment complex in Donaghmede
were last week allocated temporary housing by Dublin City Council.

However,
some of those affected have spoken of the enormity of the situation still
facing them.

Stephen
Quigley (27), who has lived at the complex for three years with his partner
Denise Carter, said that despite being provided with temporary accommodation,
he still feels as though the situation is up in the air.

“It’s the not knowing what’s going to happen
next that we’re finding very frustrating,

? he said.

“We’ve been told that this
accommodation will last us three months but what will happen if that’s
extended? Our possessions are fairly scattered and we don’t know if we are
coming or going. Most people don’t want to return to the apartments because
they’re afraid to continue living there.

?

He
said he has to continue paying his mortgage at the Priory Hall complex even
though he is not living there, as well as gas and electricity bills in the
temporary accommodation.

“The
bank that I’m with has not said if it will offer a moratorium on mortgage
repayments,

? he added.

“This is something I’d consider until the problems are
solved. People are fairly fed up at this stage but thankfully we’re settled for
now.”

Another
resident, Ibrahim Kurt, was queuing with his 10-week-old daughter, Dilan, and
wife Fiona outside Dublin City Council’s office in Clongriffin.

Fiona
described her anxiety as they hoped to get alternative accommodation.

“We
had to queue here today for something that happened outside our control,

? she
said.

“We
were allocated another apartment in the end but it will never be our home.

“We
have a roof over our heads but we cannot even put pictures on the walls because
we have no idea how long we will be there for.

?

She
added: It’s so frustrating and upsetting. We are just normal people.

?

Residents
living at the complex were recently evacuated after it was found to pose a
serious fire risk to its occupants.

However,
last Tuesday (November 1) some families were issued with keys to apartments and
houses near Priory Hall.

Dublin
City Council announced that it would provide 37 homes on behalf of the National
Asset Management Agency (NAMA) and five voluntary housing properties.

The
new homes were allocated based on the individual needs of families.

Following
the announcement that temporary accommodation would be provided, Dublin North
East Labour TD Tommy Broughan said a high number of residents did not want to
live in the complex again.

“There
are a number of issues that are yet to be dealt with, including mortgage
payments,

? Deputy Broughan said.

“We had a meeting with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore
and he said he would speak to the relevant banks to discuss mortgage relief for
tenants.

“We’ve been arguing for a long time that NAMA should provide some sort
of social remit, so this is a step in the right direction but it should have
happened a long time ago.

?

He
added:

“People don’t want to go back to the apartments. There’s still an
incredible grief among them.

?

As
part of the temporary housing agreement, Dublin City Council said a deal had
been reached to provide deposits for a number of residents in receipt of rent
supplement to secure private rented accommodation instead of staying in hotels.

Meanwhile,
local councillors have called on the Government to release two key reports on
the Priory Hall complex.

The
Hayes Higgins report, commissioned by Dublin City Council and a number of
residents, is understood to outline structural problems above and beyond the
fire safety issues that led to the evacuation of the complex. Dublin City
Council is also to conclude a separate building control report on Priory Hall.

In
a joint statement, Cllrs Tom Brabazon (FF), Micheál Mac Donncha (SF) and Brian
McDowell called for both reports to be issued as a matter of priority.

Priory
Hall residents and their supporters recently held a well-attended protest rally
in Donaghmede to highlight their case.