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Support The Priory Hall Residents

"We can finally put Priory Hall behind us" - deal is reached on apartment complex

Residents will be offered new mortgages, as well as being given 12 months to find a new house.

NEARLY TWO YEARS to the day that they were evacuated, the homeowners at Priory Hall have been given a solution.

The framework, which was proposed on Monday, has been agreed by residents at the Donaghmede complex.

The Residents Committee said that they were “looking forward to moving on” with their lives and paid tribute to the local representatives who had helped them.

We can finally put Priory Hall behind us.

“We have raised a number of concerns with the government and have received concrete assurances from senior members of both the Taoiseach’s office and the Department of the Environment that the two year deadline imposed will be adhered to and that the new development will be built to a high quality.”

“We would like to thank the Taoiseach and his department for working with us to reach a fair resolution for the former residents.”

Finally we would like to thank Stephanie Meehan. A little over a month ago she made the brave decision to speak out about the death of her partner Fiachra Daly. It was her strength and dignity that made this government finally take notice of the national disgrace that is Priory Hall. The price she has paid is more than anyone should have to bear and every resident owes her a debt of gratitude we can never repay. We have no doubt that Fiachra is proud of her.

The framework

Under the deal:

  • Ownership of owner occupier homes in Priory Hall will be transferred to Dublin City Council, as well as obligations to repay the loan to the lender under the mortgage.
  • The credit rating of the residents of Priory Hall apartments will be restored to the position it would have been in prior to evacuation of the complex.
  • Owner occupiers of Priory Hall apartments will have a twelve month period in which to complete purchase of a home.
  • Dublin City Council will continue to provide rented accommodation to owner occupiers for the twelve month period
  • The owner occupiers will be offered a new mortgage for a property by the same bank provided it is affordable relative to their current and expected future income.
  • Owners of Buy-to-Let (BTL) properties will be given the option of a moratorium on the mortgage for the duration of the refurbishment of Priory Hall, with repayments to re-commence when refurbishment of Priory Hall has been completed.
  • Dublin City Council will fund and oversee the refurbishment of the Priory Hall complex.

Former senator Dr Martin McAleese will oversee the implementation of the framework, heading up an oversight board comprised of Priory Hall residents, the Irish Banking Federation, Dublin City Council and relevant Government Departments and agencies.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the plan was fair.

“I believe that the agreed Framework is a fair solution to this unique and exceptional situation which will give the residents a chance to get on with their lives.

The residents of Priory Hall are victims of one of the worst excesses of the Celtic Tiger era, and this solution recognises the exceptional circumstances they find themselves in.

“I would like to thank the residents for the constructive manner in which they have engaged with the resolution process established by Minister Hogan three weeks ago.”

Read: Hogan hopes Priory Hall proposals will be seen as ‘balanced, equitable and fair’

Read: “Breakthrough” as Priory Hall residents are offered a deal

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65 Comments
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    Mute Noel McKeogh
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:46 PM

    Its good that its sorted for the residents but why is it the taxpayer that ends up paying the debt (DCC) should the engineers insurance policy and a case against them resolve that debt ?

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    Mute Shaun the Sheep
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:08 PM

    I wonder what will happen the lady whose partner killed himself – her mortgage was paid by the insurance company. Are the banks going to ‘pre approve’ a single mother for a mortgage?

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    Mute Alan Burke
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:21 PM

    Im sure that’ll be looked at on an individual basis

    65
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    Mute Katie Does
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:45 PM

    @Noel DCC are very much culpable here, and so is the state. DCC, like many local authorities, were acting within the law in allowing builders to self-certify – basically they, or an engineer in their employ, submitted certifications which not subject to inspections or even site visits to ensure they reflected reality.

    The blame is often laid at the foot of the local authorities for this, and certainly they have the right, if not the obligation to inspect, but really the fault is with the legislation, which allows self-certification, in fact allows the completion of whole constrcution projects, without ANY mandatory requirement for inspection.

    This has been part of the law since the whole notion of certification was introduced, in the Building Control Act (1990). This act (and later revisions) specifies standards and covers structure, fire safety, energy conservation, ventilation, access for people with disabilities etc. It does not provide for official inspections to see that these standards are adhered to.

    My understanding for example is that the Fire Safety certificate is issued BEFORE building begins, based on the plans. There is no requirement for follow up to ensure that’s what’s in the plans is what got built.

    Given that, can anyone think Priory Hall is unique?

    60
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    Mute Nigel O Keeffe
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:50 PM

    @Shaun
    Curious about that as well..and cant help but wonder will the new mortages have the same finish date as the original.
    Some of the owners will have been paying a mortage for 4/5 years ..be hard to start again ..but pleased for them that they finally know whats ahead.

    19
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    Mute Karol doran
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:18 PM

    Maybe she had life insurance that cleared the mortgage to the banks will have to reimburse the cost if the apartment hopefully she can buy a place mortgage free

    32
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    Mute Erin Smith
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:47 PM

    Surely if DCC are taking over the mortgages, they will refund Stephanie Meehan the amount paid out by life insurance to clear her mortgage?

    21
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    Mute voice of raisin
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:49 PM

    Nigel, they’ve just had a 6 figure sum of negative equity wiped out – and that’s even if the place was habitable. They get to start again at today’s prices. Well worth starting over.

    34
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    Mute Larry Ryan
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:33 PM

    Surprised the BTL landlords accepted that, a lot of rent money lost?

    8
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    Mute Anna Bella Coralde
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    Oct 11th 2013, 12:07 AM

    No. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Our third floor apartment has roofleaks from 2009 (which since has been supposedly fixed about 4 times but is still leaking). To top it all, we also found a hole under our wardrobe a year ago (it goes 4 feet down)which is fire compromised most probably. It only has been fixed very recently. How many other third floor apartments in this development has holes underneath their wardrobes and are most probably fire safety compromised as in Priory Hall?

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    Mute Angela Halpin
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    Oct 11th 2013, 2:11 AM

    Agreed

    1
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    Mute Shaun the Sheep
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    Oct 11th 2013, 7:09 AM

    I wish the banks would look at my mortgage on an ‘individual basis’. Seems to be a euphemism for banks rolling over

    3
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    Mute Shaun the Sheep
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    Oct 11th 2013, 7:10 AM

    @karol why should she be able to live mortgage free?

    3
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    Mute Erin Smith
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    Oct 11th 2013, 8:47 AM

    Shaun, she and her partner paid life insurance premiums. The point being should one of them die, the other is left mortgage free. If DCC are taking over the mortgages of the other residents, they should be refunding her what they would have taken over. She could actually be left with nothing here, it’s very sad

    6
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    Mute Laura Dillon
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:54 PM

    Protesting didn’t work…. involving all forms of media didn’t work…… raising it directly with the taoiseach and his house didn’t work…. It’s a sad day that a man sacrificied his life for this resolution to be presented. Enda Kenny, shame on you. No “framework” will bring this man back to his family and it is this mans family that will pay the ultimate price for your short comings. I’m glad to see that all the residents are finally free of the shackles, it’s just upsetting, for many im sure, the action that was taken to get there. I wish you all the best in your new properties, nobody deserves it more, two years of your life you won’t get back. RIP Fiachra.

    157
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    Mute TouchyMcFeely
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:42 PM

    Yes Laura. Let’s blame the Taoiseach that intervened to sort this out. Not the Fianna Fáil party that let developers throw up any old crap for a few brown envelopes or the Shinner who actually built this death trap.

    73
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    Mute Joe Loughrey
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:47 PM

    Sad to say even when Fiachra Daly passed away, I don’t think the government would have been prepared to do anything. It was only when Ms Meehan went before the media they became concerned – not about the residents, but the political fallout.

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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:51 PM

    I’ve an old saying for you Touchy…”would you ever get up out of that”

    20
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    Mute Kate Murphy
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    Oct 10th 2013, 11:00 PM

    I have so much respect for her and her bravery.

    20
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    Mute jack arse
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:47 PM

    Good news and about time,now get that mcfeehily and bring him to book

    113
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    Mute Mitch Cumstein
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:23 PM

    Not gonna happen this is ireland. A Taoiseach doesn’t even need a tax clearance cert in this kip but can have 40k in a cupboard.

    43
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:36 PM

    He’s bankrupt apparently. …but lock him up till he “finds” the money

    42
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    Mute Erin Smith
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:48 PM

    Bankrupt my eye. How much did a builder find in his house a few weeks ago? €200k?

    28
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    Mute Nigel O Keeffe
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    Oct 11th 2013, 12:24 AM

    Agree with you on that jack..but apart from DCC and the architects etc..do the tradesmen involved not have questions to answer?
    The slabbers?the plumbers..the electricians..and so on
    Were they given plans to follow? and if so ..were they the original blueprints ..or an edited version?

    All of the above would have worked on the skeleton of the building..up to final fitout..and could have raised concerns!

    7
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:46 PM

    At long last hopefully closure on this issue for the residents. Just a tragedy that it took the death of someone for the government to address it.

    106
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    Mute Karol doran
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:00 PM

    What about the moral hazard lots of other people stuck in seriously defective properties worth a fraction of what they paid for them my sister paid €550k fur a house riddled with pyrite its falling apart no bailout or help for her the house is worthless and a deathtrap

    108
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    Mute Niamh Byrne
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:14 PM

    Pyrite solution is on the Dail agenda for this coming Tuesday (at long last). Here’s hoping it delivers and quickly.

    62
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    Mute TouchyMcFeely
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:39 PM

    And Karol illustrates perfectly why this has taken so long to be resolved. A nation of bandwagon jumpers. Army deafness claim anyone?

    23
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    Mute Erin Smith
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:50 PM

    She’s still living there Karol. That’s the difference

    19
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    Mute Grace Curran
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:48 PM

    About time. Pity it took so long and the death of a man to finally get here.

    91
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    Mute Aideen Kelly McNamara
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:07 PM

    Delighted for the residents!!! But surely the banks & the architects who signed off on this development should be liable for at least some of the costs!!!!!

    77
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    Mute Dusty O'Brien
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    Oct 11th 2013, 7:52 AM

    Banks don’t sign off on anything

    1
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    Mute thinkinghard
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:50 PM

    My house was built in the boom by dodgy builders and is now practically falling down with subsidence. Will the bank let me off my mortgage so I can buy a nice new house for myself.? Don’t think so.Why did they get special treatment? Seems strange it is just after someone took their own life isn’t it. Is that what it takes?

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    Mute Shaun the Sheep
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:11 PM

    Totally agree. Yes have the council fix the apts, but have the owners stay in them and pay the original mortgage they took out. I do not see the fairness in writing off one mortgage and then handing them another on a platter.

    36
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    Mute Barry Ó Súilleabháin
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:57 PM

    Is your house not insured?

    15
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    Mute Maria Ni Dhonnchu
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:52 PM

    Very ignorant comment, they did not get special treatment, developer’s of Priory Hall & they weren’t only apartments by same developer BTW are worst built apartments in country FACT!!!

    9
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    Mute Michael McDonald
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    Oct 12th 2013, 9:15 AM

    Special treatment??? Getting told you have 48 hours to leave your house of 3-4 years pack up and never to return again.. some ass wipes on here!!!!

    1
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    Mute Jason Ebbs
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:40 PM

    Delighted for them all, hope they get settled in their new homes soon.
    Hope they throw the book at Feeney. It amazes me that he was/is an IRA activist and yet he ran and hid under the Queens flag when applying for bankruptcy !

    51
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    Mute david grainger
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:56 PM

    Is this really affair outcome to every other home owner caught out by cowboy builders??highly unfair result for the taxpayer but I’m sure many will say it’s the right deal….should insurance of the so called professionals the signed the building off as safe not be held responsible??? Or would it just hurt the pocket of the rich again…. Let’s see how many other claims roll in as now the government have waded in on the situation…..

    42
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    Mute Roy Donovan
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:57 PM

    im absolutely delighted for those people….

    38
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    Mute Martin Morris
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:47 PM

    Its about time

    36
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:33 PM

    No get anyone who signed off on them and prosecute them NOW

    25
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    Mute Tony Slap
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:30 PM

    Now where is that SF/IRA thug?

    25
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    Mute Catherine Byrne
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    Oct 10th 2013, 7:59 PM

    Finally these people can move on with their lives.

    24
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    Mute Rt Hon Kevin Ward
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:32 PM

    What happens if a resident doesn’t want another mortgage for another property, I wouldn’t blame them, if it was me, id be glad to be out of the shackles of a mortgage, I wouldn’t sign for another one

    18
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    Mute Tony Slap
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:41 PM

    Yes and what happens if a resident would prefer to live in a tent on top of a mountain with a nice view? Or what happens if a resident wants to live in a helium filled balloon? Or what happens is a resident would prefer to live in a dome beneath the Irish Sea? These are questions that have not been addressed by this inept and useless government. These are the type of questions that could and would only be answered by a SF government.

    12
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    Mute Michael Fennelly
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:16 PM

    BY the look of the proposed framework they aren’t obliged to take the new mortgage, its on the table for 12 months after that i’m sure the offer expires. They also get 12 months rent free.

    11
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    Mute Kevin Thornton
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:33 PM

    good on yas people ya stuck to ya guns and got what ya deserved me and the hole of this little country are delighted for yas

    15
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    Mute mick867
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:06 PM

    Delighted for the residents. I think that the money found in McFeelys bathroom should be given to the residents lock stock and barrel, it should be there’s to spend on legal, moving, PR or just a massive beans, if ever a group of people deserved a session and a good night out its them.

    12
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    Mute mick867
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:06 PM

    Sorry “theirs”

    5
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    Mute mick867
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:32 PM

    Double sorry- poxy predictive text. It should read massive beano.

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    Mute Kate Murphy
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    Oct 10th 2013, 11:02 PM

    He should have to be their man-slave.

    5
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    Mute Brian MAGEE
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:16 PM

    While I’m delighted for them I fear that a precedence has now being set and pretty soon they’ll realise most apartment blocks built during the boom are also in the same state. This could prove to be a very expensive issue for the state.

    12
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    Mute James Mark Donnelly
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    Oct 11th 2013, 12:54 AM

    Then so be it! Its their bloomin fault. I certainly don’t want it lumbered on the shoulders of innocent parties because it might get a bit pricey. Justice should be done, whatever the price. The state, the banks, the builders, or whoever, will never change their crooked ways if they are not held to account for their shoddy practices.

    9
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    Mute Brian MAGEE
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    Oct 11th 2013, 12:46 PM

    James,

    you say “I certainly don’t want it lumbered on the shoulders of innocent parties because it might get a bit pricey”

    but we the citizens own the banks are the state, so it will eventualy be lumbered on all out inncoent Shoulders.

    1
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    Mute Mardeline Bernadine Mayhamba
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:30 PM

    its about time

    10
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    Mute Mick Tully
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:06 PM

    Does anyone think there has been a stroke pulled on the residents ?. Apart from the residents getting sorted which is good news and I am sure it is a great relief to them all. I think we should watch this site and space.
    Maybe it is just my bad mind.

    10
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    Mute Leslie Alan Rock
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    Oct 10th 2013, 8:52 PM

    Bad mind? More like tin foil encased mind

    6
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    Mute Adrienne Lyons
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    Oct 11th 2013, 11:00 AM

    Can’t believe the negativity and be grudges on this. I’m sure the residents would give anything to be still living in these apartments if they were safe.

    5
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    Mute Ciaran Morgan
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    Oct 11th 2013, 10:22 AM

    Reasonable deal for the residents, terrible deal for investors.
    Fantastic deal for the builder, architects, fire engineers (both builders and local authorities), site foremen, mechanical and electrical engineers who all were involved in bulding this piece of crap.

    Congratulations to the government for yet again using taxpayers money to protect the professional classes.

    4
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    Mute Michael Fennelly
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:40 PM

    I wonder will the banks offer the same terms as the previous mortgages held ie. If someone was on a tracker rate will that still apply or do they go onto a standard variable rate.

    4
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    Mute Brian MAGEE
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:43 PM

    I doubt it, considering prices have fallen significantly they’ll already be in a better position. I’m presuming that the mortgages they get will be for much less than they originally had, the main question is will the banks offer them all apartments that are on there books in a straight swop

    4
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    Mute Dusty O'Brien
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    Oct 10th 2013, 9:49 PM

    Can’t do that. Properties in possession of the banks have to be sold on the open market (there is still a duty of care to the original borrower to achieve the best market price)…
    …ps ‘their’ not ‘there’ :)

    5
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    Mute Solbank Sabadell
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    Oct 10th 2013, 10:20 PM

    I used to have so much respect for Martin McAlease until I found out he was on the board that appointed terrible former minister for children Barry Andrews to the CEO of Goal. Broke my heart and all belief in charity.

    3
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    Mute Virtual Architect
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    Oct 11th 2013, 10:52 PM

    It was an RIAI registered architect who signed off on priory hall. Bizarrely the law has since been changed to strengthen the position of the professional institutes who continue to do nothing to protect the public against professional incompetence. Well done Phil Hogan.

    1
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