Outrage over Priory Hall continues

Almost two years after residents were forced to evacuate their homes at Priory Hall, there is still no end in sight to their plight. While politicians and bankers have now vowed to take decisive action on the matter, the nightmare continues for the displaced residents. We asked our Facebook friends if Priory Hall has now become a symbol of everything that was wrong about the Celtic Tiger building boom? Here’s an edited selection of some of the comments we received.

Martin Kelly: Knock them down. They look terrible and should never have been given planning permission in the first place. The people who got mortgages for these shambles should be given houses around the corner, where there is a ghost estate/estate not finished, for free due to the hardship and stress caused through city council, builder and previous Government negligence.

Majella O’Dwyer Rock: You would think something could be done for the families. Only last week I read a heartbreaking story of a young father taking his own life because he couldn’t take the stress and the pressure the banks were putting on him to pay for a place that couldn’t be lived in. The banks were bailed out so why can’t these people be helped?

Pat Gannon: Absolutely disgraceful. Someone should be in jail over this.

Frances Mansfield: Did nobody inspect those houses before the mortgages were given out? When we were looking for a mortgage for our house we had to get a surveyor to look at the building and send in his report. The building society would not give out the loan without this. It was a new house we were buying as well.

Lisa Byrne: I’m so happy that my sister didn’t buy the apartment here and instead went to Australia because the hardship felt by these residents is awful. That poor man and his family ruined over this shambles and loads of other lives destroyed. Some heads should be rolling for this!

Suzy Bevan: It was Dublin City Council that approved the planning application for this deathtrap so to me they are liable for the rebuilding.

Joe Andrews: If it is demolished, what happens to the mortgages on property in the complex? It is a disgrace.

Grace Costigan: Unfortunately I fear there are many more Priory Halls to come out. Owners worried about facing similar fates as these residents seem to be reluctant to go public about safety issues in their new developments. I dread to think what could happen as a result of it all.

Brian Byrne: It’s a symbol of what is wrong with this Government and Phil Hogan. The figures are there to find. If it’s to become a symbol it should be kept as a monument to FF and the Greens, planning laws and to FG and Labour incompetence.