Former garage premises in Cork city centre which were being used as a church by Nigerians were closed by order of the High Court yesterday. Adjoining premises used as retail units were also closed.
Mr Justice McCracken granted the temporary orders to Cork City Council until Monday after it was submitted that the premises represented a serious fire risk.
The orders are against William Emery, Freda Emery, Victoria Omoniyi and Evangelista Osagie Oronsaye.
Mr Richard McCann, fire prevention officer with Cork City Council, said the application related to premises at Nos 40, 40A and 41B Pope's Quay, Cork.
As far as the council was aware, the premises were all owned by Mr Emery. Freda, who was his daughter, occupied 41B and appeared to reside there and use it for her business as a psychologist. The council believed Victoria was the tenant of 40 and Evangelista of 40A.
Following inspections of the premises on June 27th, Mr McCann said, he had prepared a report which said the premises all presented a very serious risk to persons in the event of fire.
No 40 had been developed into a number of retail units without planning permission and without a fire safety certificate. The premises at No 40, formerly a garage, were used as a church by Nigerians living in or near Cork.
Planning permission was sought for that change of use but was refused by the council. An appeal was pending before An Bord Pleanála. No application for a fire safety certificate had been made in relation to the premises.
Mr McCann said the premises at 40A had a capacity of more than 100 persons. In the event of fire during a religious service, he feared there would be serious loss of life.