THE PRESIDENT of the High Court has warned a landlord and ex-garda of “serious consequences” if he fails to adhere to undertakings given by him in relation to how he deals with properties owned by him which have been alleged by Dublin City Council to represent fire safety risks.
The council earlier this year secured injunctions directing Kevin Galvin, Furrypark Road, Killester, to ensure all tenants vacated his properties at 116 Cabra Park, 73 Cabra Park and a unit to the rear of 41 Phibsboro Road.
The council had brought proceedings against Mr Galvin under provisions of the 1981 Fire Safety Act because inspectors believed the properties represented a clear danger to anyone residing in them.
The injunctions were discharged last July after Mr Galvin gave a number of undertakings to the court, including to convert the properties at Cabra Park and Phibsboro Road from multi- to single-dwelling units.
The council moved to re-enter its proceedings against Mr Galvin after inspections carried out by it at 73 Cabra Park in late November revealed the premises were being used as four flats and not as a single dwelling.
Yesterday, that application to re-enter the case was withdrawn after the court was told Mr Galvin had vacated the Cabra Park premises of tenants since the inspection took place and would comply with the undertakings.
Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns warned Mr Galvin of serious consequences if there was any further breach. Any future failure or “slip ups” in complying with an undertaking to the court would be “a very, very serious matter”, he said.
In an affidavit, Peter Audley, a fire safety officer with Dublin Fire Brigade, said, when the November inspection was being carried out, that Mr Galvin had said the premises were being used as a house with a communal kitchen and not as flats. However, the inspectors, who had only gained entry to the house with the assistance of gardaí, found sinks, fridges and cookers in the separate units of the premises, Mr Audley said.
Mr Galvin, who was sacked from An Garda Síochána earlier this year, has brought High Court proceedings challenging the decision to dismiss him from the force.