The receivers of the Apollo House office block, which has been turned into a homeless shelter by activists, have begun a court action to clear the building.
While hundreds of people joined musicians including Hozier, Glen Hansard and Kodaline for street performances to mark the occupation of the building in central Dublin yesterday, Mazars told the High Court that the accommodation was illegal and a fire risk.
The company also said that Dublin City Council has provided another 210 beds for the homeless in three facilities across the capital in the last two weeks, which are run by professionals and have links to other services. Mazars said these beds could be used by those sheltering in the building.
The receivers told the court they were sympathetic to the plight of the homeless but the occupation of the 10 storey building was illegal and a form of “political protest.”
They said the building was never intended to be used for residential purposes and required extensive maintenance and expressed particular concerns over the electricity supply which had been cut and was restored by the occupiers.
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Mazars also accused Home Sweet Home, the campaigners led by Brendan Ogle, the trade unionist and anti-water charge protestor, of repeatedly ignoring requests for meetings to resolve the impasse.
The former civil service office block on Poolbeg Street was occupied late last week by the group, whose high-profile supporters include Jim Sheridan, the film director, and the musicians Christy Moore, Damien Dempsey, Christy Dignam and Liam Ó Maonlaí.
Home Sweet Home has said it planned to put up 60 people in the building and a spokeswoman has claimed 35 people slept inside what is a “fully serviced hostel” on the premises on Monday night.
The group is now facing a High Court battle to continue accommodating rough sleepers in the office block, which had been empty since 2015.
Simon Coveney, the housing minister, also briefed cabinet yesterday on the occupation. It is understood that he outlined to ministers that there was extra capacity on the nights the building was in use with up to fifteen free beds in the city’s official homeless hostels.
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A spokesman said the government is “engaged” on the issue of homelessness and wants to ensure that everyone who wants a bed gets one over the Christmas period while a more permanent solution to the crisis is found.
He said a 40 per cent increase in homelessness funding from €70 million in 2016 to €98 million in 2017 will ensure that the increased demand for emergency services is effectively addressed.
Officials counted 142 rough sleepers during the last tally on November 22. The government said there are now 1,800 beds available across Dublin City.
“The additional beds are being provided to ensure there are sufficient for those currently sleeping rough or others who need a bed,” the spokesman said.
Apollo House was owned by Shelbourne Developments. Tom O’Brien and Simon Coyle of Mazars were appointed receivers after the company’s loans on the property were transferred to Nama.
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In a statement to media, Mr O’Brien said there is no insurance on the building in the event of a fire , which he said “poses an immediate and significant risk to the occupants and to neighbouring property”.
“As the receivers to Apollo House, we cannot responsibly allow this situation to remain,” he said. “Our overriding concern is for the health and safety of those who are homeless currently staying in Apollo House.”
Home Sweet Home has insisted they are open to meetings with the receivers, but Mazars claimed that they got no response to their attempts to set up talks.
“While we endorse the importance of highlighting the need for providing shelter to the homeless and the most vulnerable in society, the provision of such sheltered accommodation must be done in an organised, structured and sustainable manner. That is not possible in Apollo House,” Mr O’Brien said.
Mazars has also now secured planning permission from Dublin City Council to demolish Apollo House and build a new office block up to 52 metres high.
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Poolbeg Street was closed for some time yesterday afternoon as musicians backing the occupation put on impromptu performances in front of hundreds of supporters.
Glen Hansard sang Woody Guthrie’s ‘This Land Is your Land’, Jim Sheridan joined in a performance of ‘The Auld Triangle’, Kodaline sang Bob Dylan’s ‘The Times They are A Changing’ and Hozier sang ‘Take Me To Church.’
A group of performers including Hansard also sang Bob Marley’s ‘Get Up, Stand Up’, before Liam Ó Maonlaí performed a sean nós.