Apollo House occupiers refused a week’s stay by High Court

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The High Court refused the Apollo House occupiers’ application for a one-week extension of the order to vacate the building in Dublin. The remaining occupants were told to leave immediately. The proceedings were reported on 11 January 2017.

An earlier ruling before Christmas had given the occupants until midday to leave. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan described that stay as “unusually long”.

Ross Maguire, acting for some Home Sweet Home campaigners, said they intended to comply but accused Housing Minister Simon Coveney of failing to find suitable alternatives as promised. He said some occupants had left but returned because they found their alternative accommodation “entirely unsuitable”.

Rossa Fanning, representing the Nama-appointed receivers, argued that the order should stand because the court lacked jurisdiction to decide whether alternative accommodation was suitable. Mr Justice Paul Gilligan agreed that the court should not become involved in the dispute, describing it as a “matter for Government”.

In its subsequent 1.30pm update, the report said campaigners and residents intended to remain in defiance of the order. Home Sweet Home said it would not vacate until the 10 remaining homeless residents had suitable accommodation. Some residents had already left shortly before the midday deadline for accommodation organised by the Peter McVerry Trust.

A 4pm update said a spokesman for Housing Minister Simon Coveney encouraged continued engagement with the Peter McVerry Trust and Dublin City Council to secure suitable accommodation with appropriate supports.