This article is from page 16 of the 2012-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
AN ENNIS businessman has been given until tomorrow to devise a schedule of works to address fire safety concerns at an apartment block in Ennis.
Details of the case brought against Oliver Moylan were heard at Ennis District Court on Friday.
Mr Moylan, owner of the Ennis Cash Company, was brought to court by Clare County Fire and Rescue Services after failing to comply with a fire notice issued on January 23.
The notice was issued to rectify deficiencies at a 10-room apartment building owned by Mr Moylan on O’Connell Street, Ennis.
Ger Fallon, Assistant Chief Fire Officer, told the court that an inspec tion of the premises was carried out on January 16 (2012).
He explained that the apartments are located on the top two floors of a four storey building on O’Connell Street.
He said that two of the apartments were occupied at the time of the inspection.
The court heard that as of last week, none of the apartments are oc- cupied.
Mr Fallon said the inspection highlighted a number of deficiencies including inadequate means of escape and the placing of cooking facilities adjacent to doors.
Mr Fallon told the court that individual apartments were not fitted with fire alarms while there was no central fire alarm for the apartment block.
He said that both systems are required under fire safety regulations.
Mr Fallon said there was also an issue with items being stored on the stairs. Judge Durcan questioned Mr Fallon a number of times on the precise location of the items.
Mr Fallon said furniture had been left in an area on the ground floor near the stairs. Judge Durcan said he was “not impressed” by Mr Fallon’s evidence in respect of this issue.
Mr Moylan, with an address at Golf Links Road, Ennis was given two months to rectify the outstanding issues.
However the court heard that most of the work had not been carried out when the premises was re-inspected on April 16.
Under cross-examination from so- licitor Marian Petty, Mr Fallon accepted that the building was a concrete structure and that the stairway was not blocked.
Mr Fallon said that the area of the stairs must be free of any flammable material.
Ms Petty said the property is now vacant and that an engineer and architect hired by Mr Moylan have entered negotiations with the fire services.
Judge Durcan adjourned the matter until July 18. He ordered Mr Moylan to agree a schedule of works with the fire services.