At long last… work to begin at Priory Hall

WORK to make Priory Hall apartments habitable is to finally begin.

Although wooden hoardings currently hide the derelict apartments, Dublin City Council will start restoring the 187-unit complex in Donaghmede – last lived in more than two years ago.

Built by bankrupt developer Tom McFeely, Priory Hall was evacuated for fire safety reasons in October 2011, leaving 90 families homeless. Since then, they have fought for the council to re-house them and to be released from their now-worthless mortgages.

However, the campaign only had a real effect following the suicide of former resident and tireless campaigner Fiachra Daly last July. The work is due to start within two weeks and should be completed by 2016.

Yesterday Richie Flood who owns one of the apartments welcomed the repairs.

He said: ‘People are tentatively hopeful they will be able to get on with their lives.’