RESIDENTS of a gated community in Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, have lodged 30 legal actions against Sean Mulryan’s Ballymore relating to problems caused by defective building material.
About 30 residents of the exclusive development where properties are valued at up to €1m have already filed cases. It is understood that up to 80 householders could take action.
Infill that contains pyrite has been blamed for cracks and damage to thousands of houses across north Dublin and Meath. Pyrite crystals can form after contact with air and moisture, leading to swelling in walls and floors.
Paul Keogh, group director of Ballymore, said that it first identified the pyrite damage at a single property in Drumnigh Wood in 2011. All the homes in the development were covered by Premier Guarantee, a construction insurance company, he added.
“Ballymore wrote to all of the homeowners in the development and offered assistance in relation to inspection of properties,” said Keogh. “Over the past three years, Ballymore has engaged extensively with homeowners in the development, and further properties have been remediated under the structural guarantee policy.”
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Legislation means that homeowners in areas affected by pyrite have to get a green certificate before they can sell their homes. It is understood that many of them are worried that they may soon be barred from claiming for the cost of fixing pyrite-related issues.
“Ballymore is aware that proceedings have been initiated in recent days,” said Keogh. “At this point the proceedings have not been served on the company.”