Disputed hotel will open to asylum seekers in early January, court told

The High Court heard on Thursday that the 39-room Shannon Key West Hotel at Rooskey, on the Leitrim-Roscommon border, is set to accommodate asylum seekers from early January. The hotel is the subject of disputed proceedings between Paradub Ltd, which seeks to develop the property as a tourist hotel, and owner James Kiernan. Paradub claims it entered into an agreement to purchase the hotel, which closed in 2011, and alleges Mr Kiernan has failed to complete the sale. The company launched proceedings after learning from media reports that arrangements had been made to house refugees at the property, which it contends breaches the purchase agreement. Paradub seeks an injunction to prevent Mr Kiernan from leasing or disposing of the property to any third party. Mr Kiernan denies the claims. His counsel stated that a third party had entered into an arrangement with the Department of Justice to use the hotel for asylum seeker accommodation from 7 January.