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THE HSE IS being urged to turn the derelict St Kevin’s in Cork city and put it back to use, after a fire gutted the iconic building on Tuesday night.
It is believed that arson is the suspected cause of the fire, and Cork Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald told TheJournal.ie that Tuesday “was a bad night for the city”.
In a statement, the HSE defended the security in place St Kevin’s and said that the site has been offered to other government departments with a view to making it available for sale on the open market.
Security issues
A number of concerns had been raised about the security at St Kevin’s, but a HSE spokesperson said today that rigorous security measures were “reviewed and updated continuously”.
They told TheJournal.ie: “The HSE have a contract in place with an external security company who provide twice daily security patrols.
To prevent unwanted access into the buildings on the campus, the HSE arranged the installation of 235 fixed panel shutters, to accessible windows and doors on lower floors of the campus buildings
“A CCTV system is installed on the perimeter of the site and is monitored on a 24/7 basis.”
They added that maintenance teams carried out weekly inspections of the site and carried out repairs as and when needed.
While no estimate is yet available for the cost of the damage, the HSE has taken further measures to protect the site.
The spokesperson said: “A continuous security presence has been placed on the site and will remain in place for the immediate future. An exclusion zone will be created around St. Kevin’s building with the use of Heras fencing.”
What next?
Today, local councillors told TheJournal.ie that accommodation for families or students could be two of several options to explore as the site has been closed and left derelict for 15 years.
The building, a large red-brick dating from the late 19th century situated just north of the Lee in the west of the city centre, has been closed and out of use since 2002.
It’s thought that up to two-thirds of the building has been destroyed in the fire. Photos of the incident seem to show the roof has completely collapsed.
Fianna Fáil’s Sean Martin said: “Back when it closed, I thought there was a great opportunity to develop that site.
People are up in arms now, but that building has been lying vacant for well over a decade.
He said that the fire has drawn attention to the issue of derelict buildings in Cork, and that it had put a spotlight on what would happen next.
Martin said: “People are wondering how this could happen, but if you allow it to remain empty for years, it will decay. There’s no point finger-pointing now, though.”
He said that suggestions that the fire had been started deliberately come of “no surprise” and that it shows the laissez-faire approach taken with St Kevin’s as it lay empty and unused.
The HSE spokesperson said that the site had been deemed “surplus to requirements”. As a result the site was offered to other government departments under State channels. They added:
Pending confirmation from other government departments, the HSE has recently engaged with an estate agent to discuss the potential of bringing the campus to the open market.
A garda spokesperson told TheJournal.ie that investigations are ongoing into the fire, and that there have been no arrests as of yet.
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Why don’t they buy or rent a building like the rest of us? Squatters should have no rights whatsoever and it’s a disgrace that people can’t get them out of their properties without going through the legal system. If I own a building and someone else thinks they can live in it for free they are seriously deluded.
The law is not on their side here as there is no such thing as squatters rights.
But it does raise the question about whether a landlord can leave a building empty and become derelict when there is a shortage of supply, a lack of housing and a decimation of public and social services. Especially for more than a decade and during not one, but two property booms.
There were some laws passed which would allow the Council to take possession of such buildings, yet DCC and others do not seem to have done much here. More laws are obviously needed with possibly the DOE giving councils a kick up the ar$€
This building was lying empty due to a ownership debate and couldn’t be sold until it was finalised. It is very valuable and an eyesore. It was set to be redeveloped a few yrs ago but the court has taken some time to remove the squatters. These squatters are hippyish self entitled morons. They are holding back employment by not allowing this building be redeveloped creating real jobs.
“Ireland’s most famous squatters”? – never heard of them before now.
Same. I thought this was going to be about the DIT campus squatters.
Neither have I. Like the journalist also portrays them well. Its quite simple. Man buys building. People enter and squat. Man “asks” for them to be removed in *court* because he owns and wants to sell and theres a risk they could sue for accident. Squatters are not paying rent. This threat annoys squatters. Squatters go to journal complaining and looking pathetic with no structured argument or addressing any open obvious questions. journalist gives them platform without asking the obvious questions like “don’t you realize that you *don’t* own the building.
“Irelands most famous squatters” were those pompous arrogant clowns in Dalkey – they are the ones that I would have a problem with squatting.
In this case,
IF the building has been vacant,
IF they are not damaging it or engaging in any illegal or anti-social practices and IF they are not hindering the owners taking back full vacant possession, then why not leave them there until the time comes that an agreed date can be arranged for them to move out.
They basically want to live rent free and without having to work. Try get a job and live in the real world. Then you can keep your home and do what you like with the rest of your money. Stop wasting ours!
imagine you owned a property and these undesirables felt they had some right to just take it from you. would you even negotiate with them? Personally i would envisage them bouncing off the pavement as they are swiftly ejected mid sentence
Crazy country.. The people that DONT own the building can trespass and set up businesses in it etc.. The people that DO own it have to go to court in order to get back their building. Nuts.
Crazy county… The people occupy a building that has been lying vacant for over a decade in ruins, and turn it into a hub of activity. The people who claim ownership leave it to rot and then go running to the courts when people decided to fix it up. Nuts.
I assume the fact they are running a business from this building they are fully tax compliant and are paying commercial rates.
It’s all run on an non-profit basis. The money that comes in from donations goes directly back into the space; it’s completely self contained.
Everything is run on a non-profit basis. All of the money that comes in via donations is directly put back into the space; it’s completely self contained.
you won’t see the council scrambling to find emergency accommodation for these.
Fair play to them, whether or not you agree worth there idea you have to respect that they live it as they talk it. If they have to move hopefully they get another storable building. I can’t see that they’re harming anyone, good luck to them
Worth = with storable = suitable :(
Fair play to them? They’re squatters, they don’t own the building. Too many people think they can just take or occupy what is not theirs.
If they put as much effort and resources into seeking employment and working, as they have done refurbishing this building, maybe they could afford a place of their own.
Yeah they should move on, but it was empty for years before they moved in. Not everyone sees life/society the same. Is have more respect for people like this than someone bucking the system in the normal ways, at least they are living life on their principles, even if we don’t agree with them, is more positive than sitting on the street begging
Yes, they could, and they could lock the doors and refuse to do anything for anyone else, ever. Wouldn’t that be nice.
Instead they put all that effort into fixing up a building that had been left to rot and running a space that benefits hundreds of people locally. They don’t claim benefits or ask for anything except whatever donations people can afford.
If you go into the cafe with no money they will still feed you. Dreadful isn’t it.
I miss the days when you could send the police in the baton charge the crusty filth. They should move back home to their parents until they’ve grown up a bit more.
“My body..my choice..- legalize abortion”.
We know the types.
Vegan cafe says it all
John we believe in live and let live. …..remember
Unlikely to be welcomed at the White Moose Cafe
Jaysus. What is this country coming to? A few people try to make a difference, non-profit and using a city centre space that has been left to rot. Yet the majority of you take umbrage because they are not paying 1300+ a month for a hovel and are not as miserable as you. Keep eating what you’re fed.
Anto , how would you feel if you had a holiday home in the country that you don’t really use and a group of people moved in and decided to live there ?
If it was a holiday home that I hadn’t set foot in and neglected for 10 years I wouldn’t give a fcuk.
Hey Suzie. I think if I took that few holidays, I wouldn’t have a holiday home. Best; Anto.
Ferdia?
Enough said.
I know it’s not the issue, but why can’t you comment on an article if someone has been charged or a case is ongoing, yet here you have an ongoing case but also the fecking solicitor for one of the parties making interviews! WTF!
Because this is a civil issue which has no jury whereas a criminal case would
The property owners should take a leaf out of Gary Nevilles book here and let them stay for the winter, they can then leave at an agreed upon date next year.
They have been there 10 winters already
They haven’t been there for ten years. The owner of the building left it vacant for ten years,
Maybe the owner bought the premises 10 years ago, and by the time planning permission, for whatever their plans were, was granted the financial crash happened and couldn’t raise the finance to carry out such plans.
I don’t think many property owners or lenders think is is financially savvy to let a property sit there idle for such a long period unless there was some underlying circumstances
They’ve only been there since March 15.
Ownership of the building is unclear as the previous owner Ellen McGuill died over 13 years ago. A company named as Vandelure Limited is currently proclaiming ownership, but they don’t have any registered directors and their last publicly available records date back to 1992.
The owners were quite happy to leave these people here for over 10 years …they secured this building and kept it sliver. .the owners got free security and now they fancy a quick buck..I see the usual nazis are making comments but I’d ask them what they have done to help anyone apart from themselves
Sliver?..predictive text…should be..kept building alive
So if someone believes that you shouldn’t get a property for free it makes then a Nazi. You know you need to stop overusing that term since it is starting to lose its meaning.
I see you live in London Stephen. .so mind your own business please…what happens in Ireland has nothing to do with you..
What does living in London have to do with having an opinion on this or not? Any way that is irrelevant since I am moving back to Dublin in less than two weeks now. Looking forward to it. Can’t think of a better way to celebrate than reading about a gang of crusties being turfed out of a building they have no right to be in.
So fingers crossed it happens.
Other countries, such as the UK, have laws that allow the council or state take back buildings from owners that leave them vacant for more than a few years.
These countries recognise that allowing buildings to become vacant for long periods of time or derelict should be classified as anti-social behaviour because it damages the rest of the area visually, financially and socially.
This building owner has left this building for ten years and should have the building taken off them an sold or put to a community use.
So someone is left their family home and unable to fix it up for financial reasons. They save for years to do it up and realise they cant reach on it. They decide to sell and buy something smaller or in a cheaper area. Then realise the property is no longer theirs. This is a case of the working class getting shafted again
of course the owners have to get rid of them they are there 10 years. anybody know what happens at 12 years. the squatters can claim adverse position.
Only if there is no contact with the true owners. Once contact is made within 12 years it dose not. If however the owners go away again they can start again.
The current inhabitants have only been in ownership since March of this year. The building has being occupied by different parties over the last ten years, primarily drug addicts and such like.
The place will be alive with fleas and maggots.
Anti establishment, know all pains in the hole.
Some people just need to grow up is
I expect if there was a tragedy on the premises the owners will be fully liable for permitting the trespassers to occupy for so long and the SF/Eirigi/PBP/AAA rainbow coalition will be outside campaigning for justice.
The new AAA headquarters
Ireland doen’t “do” squatters rights..There is no provision in law for it…
I think what they’ve done there is very inventive. I’ll genuinely feel sorry for this little community when they are forced to leave.
Hey,
Squatting is an action of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied area of land or a building – usually residential – that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have lawful permission to use.
The judge might change the meaning of upward only rent, commercial rates and corporation tax when he is at it.
The outcome of this one could be a game changer.
Hopefully he doesn’t. Irish society should not tolerate crusty filth who do not contribute in any tangible way .
Squatters are offering a hell of a lot more to their local community than yourself propagating hate on the internet against people you know nothing about.
My comment was removed for speaking out against squatters rights? Shameful
Oops sorry
Interesting. Article states that there’s similar squat setups in Cork. I’m not aware of any. Does anyone know of one?
There’s currently only one known squat in Cork and as far as I’m aware it’s living space only.
I am quite shocked by some of the comments, what people fail to realise is that this building was unused and falling into a state of disrepair, there is a video interview on youtube in which members of the barricade in talk about how they renovated the building so that it could be used to house people, and so that it could be used as an anarchist social centre. The people involved with the Barricade Inn are not “undesirables”, all that they have done is set up a cafe, an “infoshop” and they have provided accommodation for people in an unused building, I don’t see the problem with that.
“We have people coming from abroad because the squatting scene is beginning to flourish here” now that is all we need
Just kick them out ! If they don’t own he building nor pay rent for it out they go ! there’s always these people in life trying to get stuff for free ! If they want the building get jobs that can buy the place or pay rent ! End off have no time for any other excuses !
The Mountcharles?
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