Two men occupying a former pub in Dublin’s Liberties have been court ordered not to invite others or allow members of the public on the property pending further order due to concerns over the building’s structural safety. Eoghan Lynch and Seán Doyle, who said they are members of the Revolutionary Housing League, must also not carry out any work to Ardee House, Chamber Street, over the next week.Judge Brian Cregan said in the High Court that he would not continue an interim trespass order granted last week against the defendants and against unknown persons in occupation of the property, as the two men had said they wished to contest that. Lynch told the court he was the only occupant of the premises while Doyle said he was an occasional occupant. A number of people turned up in the public gallery to hear the matter.Lynch said they were looking for time to seek legal advice over the proceedings by the owners, Black Sheep Investments Ltd, which the court heard was bought in 2016 by Teeling Whiskey from a liquidator which assigned it to Black Sheep. It was last used as a pub in 2011.Ross Gorman, barrister for Black Sheep, said the individuals involved are trespassing and operating a cafe from the building which was structurally unsafe. A garden party was held there last Saturday and meetings were also held there, he said.His client first became aware of trespass after planning notices were erected on the site and they were also contacted by a journalist. Gardaí visited the premises but ultimately determined it was a civil matter.Gorman said an engineers’ report had identified serious structural issues relating to load-bearing walls and that extensive temporary propping of walls will be required. Counsel said it is planned to build apartments on the site.Doyle, who said he was representing the Revolutionary Housing League, said the revolutionary workers’ council passed a resolution some years ago in favour of the “acquisition” of long-time vacant property.[ Activists occupy Dublin pub closed since 2010, planning to reopen as community spaceOpens in new window ]His group believes the Government has failed to do similar and “has allowed people to freeze on doorsteps” and to protect property with little or no regard for human life.He believed the engineer’s report provided to the court was biased and was in effect a “report for demolition”. He said his group was “not stupid and if anything was unsafe we would not let anyone go near it”. Asked by the judge if he was an engineer, he said he was not but had worked in the building trade and he knew “what is structurally going to come down on top of me”.The judge said it was a very serious issue for unsuspecting members of the public to be invited on the premises for a coffee on which there was no insurance and where they could be seriously or fatally injured.This was the first trespass case he had before him where members of the public were being invited on to a property and regardless of what Doyle said the court could go only on evidence which was an engineering report which said it was unsafe, he said. Doyle said: “We are trying to help people, not injure them.”The judge said he would adjourn the matter for a week so the defendants could file replying affidavits. However, he was granting an injunction restraining any member of the public, or anyone other than the two defendants, from going on to the property. It would be a very serious matter if this was not complied with, he said.Asked by Lynch if they could carry out repairs, the judge told them they could not touch the building. “Not a lick of paint,” he said.
Occupiers of former Dublin pub ordered not to allow members of public access
Judge grants injunction restraining anyone other than two defendants from going on to Liberties property







