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PRESIDENT MICHAEL D. Higgins welcomed the former residents of Priory Hall to a reception in Áras an Uacharáin this afternoon, two months after a deal was agreed to end the uncertain situation they found themselves in after their north Dublin apartment complex was deemed unsafe to live in.
Amongst them was Stephanie Meehan, the woman whose story thrust the residents’ plight back into the national spotlight after it emerged her partner taken his own life during the summer. Stephanie attributed his suicide to the financial strain the family were under due to the evacuation of the complex in October 2011.
As part of a deal announced by the Government in October, the Priory Hall homes are being transferred to Dublin City Council, the residents’ credit ratings are being restored and they are being offered new mortgages by their original banks.
Addressing the residents this afternoon, President Higgins said they had had gone through an ordeal marked by “years of anxiety, frustration and an understandable dismay”. He used his speech to reflect on the failures of State institutions and of society in general that had occurred in the course of the property boom:
The decades from which we are moving are ones in which we will have to recall were ones, when, by breaches of trust in those institutions and professions where it had been placed, very many were left wounded – those who simply sought a home, but also so many of our citizens were deeply wounded as a people and as an economy. In failing to control speculation, by light or no regulation, our citizens were failed by those in whom trust was placed in their duty of care towards all of our citizens.
The ethical values necessary to be at the heart of any flourishing society not to speak of a Republic, were seen, by some, as a redundant relic of the past. The prevailing ethos of the property boom, dominated by an aggressive individualism and an almost reverential approach to speculative wealth, to consumption for its own sake.
It was a version of Ireland which was very far from the best values of a Republic, something that must not be allowed to re-emerge, that must be rejected, as we seek to close that failed chapter and begin to look forward with hope, and our characteristic resilience, to better and more responsible days ahead.
The Priory Hall complex, photographed earlier this year [Support the Priory Hall Residents/Facebook]
In terms of the residents’ ordeal, he said they had fought together with “tenacity, determination and dignity in pursuit of single shared goal – a fair hearing, a just consideration, and just recompense”. He also paid tribute to Stephanie Meehan’s bravery in speaking publicly about her plight.
I would like to particularly mention Stephanie Meehan whose bravery and tenacity at a time of enormous personal tragedy moved and impressed a nation.Stephanie’s dignity and generosity of spirit has been publicly acknowledged by the Priory Hall residents, and I would like to add my voice to theirs in thanking her for being an inspiration to us all and a true embodiment of courage in the face of tragedy.
President Higgins concluded his address by speaking of hope for “a new year to come” and said he wished the group “a 2014 in which they can move out of the shadows of anxiety, hurt and disappointment and look forward to new possibilities and new beginnings”.
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Happy Christmas to all the former residents, they have had a tough couple of years, I hope this Christmas they can finally start putting it behind them and look forward to a brighter 2014.
So sad how it could be sorted within a month once the decision was made to do so…
Still two young kids left without a father, so michael d, enda Gilmore can say what they like but these people have been terribly let down and it seemed to have taken this brave woman to come out and tell her partners tragic story to get a move under anyone to help these residents out, honestly if it had been me there is no way I would have continued to payin the first place. I wish Stephanie her children and all other residents the best
Bang on Joe.
Nobody asked him to commit suicide
And a happy Christmas to you gogo.
I’ll take from that bile comment,that you and your family or close friends are immune from suicide ..You sad brain dead wan[er!
Tom, you’re a sad brain dead cu’t. My comment stands, and you know nothing.
Bad comment I made, I should have elaborated in my thinking, big mistake, apologies
I know a bile comment ,when I see one !
Fair enough..
Nice words from,Michael..
Nice words don’t put a roof over your head,The president should tell Enda Kenny to compensate them people now.
They have been looked after,Denise..If Stephanie can move on,then by god,so can I .
Denise
Compensate them? Lol.
Every time you sit down to type. Jesus Denise.
Not in the gift of an Irish President to instruct the government Denise.
How come there was nobody charged for this development in the Court’s ???
Where is the developer now,and what about the city engineer,planners who gave the planning permission!
Politicians are not our friends. Their interests do not coincide with the interests of the people. Their devotion is to the preservation of power, privilege and financial comfort. There are a few, very few, honourable exceptions but it is foolish to expect politicians to act in the greater public interest.
Love that little fella.
Why did he not invite them around while they were in the doldrums a few months ago ….Seems to me that the President would do any thing for a photo shoot
Politicians lie with words. Bankers lie with numbers and nothing changes.
The invitation would have been a nice gesture prior to the tragic suicide of one owner.
Mickey D failed the citizens of this country when he signed the bank debt in to sovereign debt
The people were failed primarily by El Pesidente and his political class ilk.
Put a sock in it Eric!
In fairness, Michael D was always a critic of uncontrolled capitalism and consumerism. He has always been a humanitarian. I was never a fan but he has grown in my estimation. His critique of Ireland’s tiger elite skirts close to the line of normal presidential etiquette but I applaud his sentiments. We need a new moral compass in our country. Who better than our first citizen.
Well said David!
Indeed! So say all of us.
That McShite fella has a great way with words and I believe he’s hugely attractive.
Well put.
Shite Mac
An t-uachtarán – he is a credit to our nation. A man who reflects the true values of Ireland. I greatly admire him.
Although what he says is true, part of me just feels like saying “get off that bandwagon”… It’s like politicians do, if something wasn’t their fault they make it out to be the most dramatic thing that’s ever happened, and when it’s their fault, the simply brush over it. What he says is true as I said, and it’s hugely dramatic for those involved, but I don’t believe he has any conviction when he says it. Perhaps it’s simply as a result of all the previous politicians who’ve abused their public forum, and this has made me cynical….. but I don’t think him making big grand statements like “our citizens have been failed” (as if he holds the same authority as JFK or MLK), serves anyone, or helps in anyway to alleviate the situation. It’s just a press call for him.
It took far too bloody long for those poor residents to get any justice. Held to ransom by the system and it’s handlers. Being expected to pay for a death trap apartment.. Disgraceful.
A big thank you, to FF and those who supported them at elections! If we don’t change, demand change and make it happen? Nothing will change!
Nothing will change until top civil servants can’t be sacked for blatent incoptance
Like the CRC the people responsible rode of into the sunset. The ultimate authority was Dublin City Council and the City manager goes and gets one of the biggest jobs in Ireland as a reward — He is now Head of the Water Board. Others still employed in top positions in the different departments while people suffer at a cost of 1 life. At one point Bertie suggested people who were complaining and being negitive about the running of the country should commit suicide. Bertie some of the people in Priory hall voted for you and your fellow FF cronies. One poor man took your exact word for it sadly.
Fianna Fail should never be forgiven for the mess they made and for their failure to protect ordinary people against people like the former IRA man who built Priory Hall. Well done Michael D for inviting the victims of this injustice to the Aras.
David – McFeely is a FORMER IRA man, just like a prominent Comedian, several Businessmen, Politicians, Oscar nominated Actor & Civil Servants- the IRA is around a very long time. What has that got to do with the people of Priory Hall…nothing at all, unless you are the Indo!
Little too late for a cup of tea and a chat
xxx :)
I don’t know what the headline will be but I’m sure the SUNDAY TIMES will blame P.Hall on Michael D. !!
Journal the only point I was trying to make was that the IRA have over the years have had people in all walks of life & the constant reference to McFeely’s IRA past does a great disservice to the IRA.
Malachy, I referred to Tom McFeely as a former IRA man because I could not remember his name. He probably has done more damage to Ireland and Irish people as a property developer than he ever did as a member of the Provisional IRA. People like him should be held to account.
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