Verdemont apartments

PerryB78

I see property owners here could be hit with huge bills to pay for remedial work on their places here. Does anyone know who built these apartments?

handlemaster

PerryB78 wrote: »

I see property owners here could be hit with huge bills to pay for remedial work on their places here. Does anyone know who built these apartments?

id assume if you looked on line you would find that info

PerryB78

handlemaster wrote: »

id assume if you looked on line you would find that info

Well I couldn't so I asked on here

oLoonatic

"McInerney Construction based in Waterford, which is a subsidiary of McInerney Holdings plc"

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/fire-in-which-two-died-may-have-started-in-kitchen-1.1054344

Jaster Rogue

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/50k-bill-to-make-2001-homes-fire-safe-914569.html

Homeowners in a complex where fire safety deficiencies have been discovered will have to pay up to €50,000 per home for remedial work, the Irish Examiner has learned.

The deficiencies in the Verdemont Complex in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, are by far the most costly uncovered since the building practices from the boom years were first uncovered in Priory Hall in 2011.

Homeowners were told the cost of the remedial in the 274 apartments and duplexes could be between €12m and €14m. The deficiencies came to light following a fire in May 2017 in which around 100 residents had to temporarily leave their homes.

€50k is some chunk of change, I'd say the majority of owners there wouldn't have the means to put up that kinda cash. What happens if they can't pay? Some kind of lien placed on their property if they try to sell?

PerryB78

Jaster Rogue wrote: »

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/50k-bill-to-make-2001-homes-fire-safe-914569.html



€50k is some chunk of change, I'd say the majority of owners there wouldn't have the means to put up that kinda cash. What happens if they can't pay? Some kind of lien placed on their property if they try to sell?

Its disgraceful, mcinerney should foot the bill but that wont happen

L1011

McInerney were liquidated a few years ago I believe.

how.gareth

Probably a silly question but can the original director/owner not be held legally responsible for endangering lives?

Former Former

Jaster Rogue wrote: »

€50k is some chunk of change, I'd say the majority of owners there wouldn't have the means to put up that kinda cash. What happens if they can't pay? Some kind of lien placed on their property if they try to sell?

In theory, you can still sell but any prospective buyer is going to factor that 50k into the purchase price and probably want a hefty discount on top of that. Plus, any solicitor would advise his client not to go near it until this is all sorted.

Most likely the management company will have to effectively mortgage the entire block and the owners pay it back over time.

Anyone who bought their apartment from new would have a lot of equity built up but my heart would go out to anyone who bought in recent years.

Muahahaha

Interesting back story with these apartments and the man who climbed up upon the M50 gantries and did hundreds of thousands of damage to the tolling equipment. Turns out this was an act of protest at the Gardai not taking him seriously as to the fire risks in the apartment building.

The deficiencies in the Verdemont Complex in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, are by far the most costly uncovered since the building practices from the boom years were first uncovered in Priory Hall in 2011.

Homeowners were told the cost of the remedial in the 274 apartments and duplexes could be between €12m and €14m. The deficiencies came to light following a fire in May 2017 in which around 100 residents had to temporarily leave their homes.

Subsequent investigations uncovered major problems with firestopping and compartmentalisation in the complex, which was built in 2001 by McInerney Construction. The firm went out of business in 2011.

Following talks with Dublin Fire Brigade, fire wardens now patrol the complex 24/7 as a precaution in case of fire. The cost of such security is understood to be between €120,000 and €200,000 for which the owners are liable.

A previous fire in the complex in 2002 resulted in two fatalities, but no action was taken against the developer on that occasion despite a senior garda recommending a prosecution.

The jury at the inquest into the deaths of Mick Farrell, 23, and Louise Wall, 21, also expressed concern that there were safety problems in the complex but no further inspections were conducted.

The fire safety deficiencies were only subsequently exposed in the 2017 fire.

Families and friends of the deceased couple have for many years campaigned over what they claimed was the failure to properly determine whether the fire safety deficiencies could in any way have contributed to the deaths of their loved ones.

Ms Wall’s mother, Margaret, told the Irish Examiner her daughter’s death has never been properly investigated and nobody has been held to account for how the couple died in their own home in the fire.

“Every year goes by and we still have not had any questions answered about this,” she said.

One campaigner, Tony Rochford, became so frustrated at the lack of a response from State agencies that he performed a publicity stunt on the M50 in 2017, for which he is currently serving a prison term.

Turns out this guy Tony Rochford worked as a trademen on the initial build of the apartments. He reported his concerns about the building to Blanchardtown Gardai who sent him on a fools errand to Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park who then sent him to Cabra Garda who then sent him back to Blanch Gardai where he had started in the first place. He basically had the p1ss taken out of him by three different sets of Gardai so it was at that point he lost the plot and embarked on his M50 protest which involved a three hour stand off with the Blanch Gardai and it resulted in the entire southbound lane being shut down for several hours. Unbelievable stuff, would it really have killed them to take a statement about his concerns for fire safety in a building where two people had already died in a fire? Or at least refer him to the Chief Fire Officer instead of taking the p1ss out of him?

jimmynokia

They should be taxing the brazzers there so

Former Former

Muahahaha wrote: »

Interesting back story with these apartments and the man who climbed up upon the M50 gantries and did hundreds of thousands of damage to the tolling equipment. Turns out this was an act of protest at the Gardai not taking him seriously as to the fire risks in the apartment building.

Turns out this guy Tony Rochford worked as a trademen on the initial build of the apartments. He reported his concerns about the building to Blanchardtown Gardai who sent him on a fools errand to Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park who then sent him to Cabra Garda who then sent him back to Blanch Gardai where he had started in the first place. He basically had the p1ss taken out of him by three different sets of Gardai so it was at that point he lost the plot and embarked on his M50 protest which involved a three hour stand off with the Blanch Gardai and it resulted in the entire southbound lane being shut down for several hours. Unbelievable stuff, would it really have killed them to take a statement about his concerns for fire safety in a building where two people had already died in a fire? Or at least refer him to the Chief Fire Officer instead of taking the p1ss out of him?

I would be very, very skeptical of that.

This is a guy who was arrested for blocking a public road in protest at water meters, went on a hunger strike outside the Dail in protest at the property tax, chained himself to the counter at Ulster Bank in Blanch because he wouldn't pay his mortgage and claimed that the drinking water supply in Ireland is poisoned.

At the time of his protests on the M50 (he vandalised it twice), the 2017 fire had already happened and the defects had been uncovered.

So no, I don't think anyone should take him seriously.

Del2005

how.gareth wrote: »

Probably a silly question but can the original director/owner not be held legally responsible for endangering lives?

That's why limited companies exist, once the company is properly wound up all liabilities die with it.

Del2005

Muahahaha wrote: »

Interesting back story with these apartments and the man who climbed up upon the M50 gantries and did hundreds of thousands of damage to the tolling equipment. Turns out this was an act of protest at the Gardai not taking him seriously as to the fire risks in the apartment building.



Turns out this guy Tony Rochford worked as a trademen on the initial build of the apartments. He reported his concerns about the building to Blanchardtown Gardai who sent him on a fools errand to Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park who then sent him to Cabra Garda who then sent him back to Blanch Gardai where he had started in the first place. He basically had the p1ss taken out of him by three different sets of Gardai so it was at that point he lost the plot and embarked on his M50 protest which involved a three hour stand off with the Blanch Gardai and it resulted in the entire southbound lane being shut down for several hours. Unbelievable stuff, would it really have killed them to take a statement about his concerns for fire safety in a building where two people had already died in a fire? Or at least refer him to the Chief Fire Officer instead of taking the p1ss out of him?

How long was this complex completed before he decided to protest? Because there has been feck all building between the crash and his blocking the M50. Would he not have been better to protest when he was building them?

Pat Dunne

Del2005 wrote: »

How long was this complex completed before he decided to protest? Because there has been feck all building between the crash and his blocking the M50. Would he not have been better to protest when he was building them?

His "protest" came two days after the Grenville Tower fire in London.

blanch152

Muahahaha wrote: »

Interesting back story with these apartments and the man who climbed up upon the M50 gantries and did hundreds of thousands of damage to the tolling equipment. Turns out this was an act of protest at the Gardai not taking him seriously as to the fire risks in the apartment building.



Turns out this guy Tony Rochford worked as a trademen on the initial build of the apartments. He reported his concerns about the building to Blanchardtown Gardai who sent him on a fools errand to Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park who then sent him to Cabra Garda who then sent him back to Blanch Gardai where he had started in the first place. He basically had the p1ss taken out of him by three different sets of Gardai so it was at that point he lost the plot and embarked on his M50 protest which involved a three hour stand off with the Blanch Gardai and it resulted in the entire southbound lane being shut down for several hours. Unbelievable stuff, would it really have killed them to take a statement about his concerns for fire safety in a building where two people had already died in a fire? Or at least refer him to the Chief Fire Officer instead of taking the p1ss out of him?

I notice that you didn't provide a link to this story, just did a cut and paste job and added a little bit of conspiracy theory to it.

Can you provide the link?

Jaster Rogue

I see a few of them for sale on daft at the moment, no mention of the remedial works and prices don't seem to be reduced either:

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/apartments-for-sale/blanchardstown/3-park-gate-verdemont-blanchardstown-dublin-2059020/

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/apartments-for-sale/blanchardstown/8-green-briar-verdemont-blanchardstown-dublin-2059040/

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/apartments-for-sale/blanchardstown/parkgate-verdemont-snugborough-road-blanchardstown-dublin-1958979/
^ This one even goes out of the way to state:
"The property current has a modern kitchen bathroom etc and requires no further investment from any purchaser." :eek:

https://www.daft.ie/dublin/duplexes-for-sale/blanchardstown/117-verdemont-blanchardstown-dublin-2077947/

Muahahaha

blanch152 wrote: »

I notice that you didn't provide a link to this story, just did a cut and paste job and added a little bit of conspiracy theory to it.

Can you provide the link?

You're wrong blanch152, its all been published
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/man-sabotaged-toll-to-highlight-fire-concerns-914533.html

Tony Rochford was at the end of his tether when he climbed the toll gantry on the M50 and cut wires on the system. It was 9.30pm on June 16, 2017.Earlier that day, he had gone to the gardaí with evidence of what he believed was a possible crime. He had acquired documents relating to the 2002 fire at the Verdemont complex, in which two people died. Rochford was working in the complex, as a tiler, at the time of the fire.

He had started his own tiling business in 1997, and his experience in Verdemomt had led him to believe there were fire-safety defects there.He had been in touch with the family of Louise Wall, through Facebook, after he began investigating the aftermath of the fire. He had sympathy for their plight: They believed their daughter’s death could have been avoided.

He had researched the case and acquired the file from the inquest into the two deaths. In May 2017, the second fire had occurred in Verdemont. On June 14, the fire in the Grenfell Tower in London had heightened his fears about fire safety in Irish construction, in general, and at Verdemont in particular.

On the afternoon of June 16, he went first to the garda station in Blanchardstown, with what he believed was a file of evidence. They referred him to Garda HQ, in the Phoenix Park.From there, he was referred to Cabra station, which, in turn, told him to turn around and head back to Blanchardstown. A court would later hear that he felt he was getting “the runaround”.So Rochford decided to create a splash. He climbed up the gantry on the M50, as the cars and trucks whizzed by underneath.

So he got the runaround from unprofessional Gardai in Blanch who thought they would have a laugh by sending him on a fools errand to Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park who then sent him to Cabra Gardai and who then sent him back to Blanch Gardai where he had started. Gardai deal with all sections of society every day and that includes people with mental health issues. That doesn't give them the right to take the p1ss out of someone who has legitimate concerns. Every citizen has the right to go into a Garda station and be treated professionally, heck its even in their Code of Conduct displayed in every station in the country. But I've no doubt you will defend unprofessional policing, as you've done many times on these Boards in the past. Would it have been so hard for them to give him the contact details of the Chief Fire Officer? Clearly it was :rolleyes:k

blanch152

Muahahaha wrote: »

You're wrong blanch152, its all been published
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/man-sabotaged-toll-to-highlight-fire-concerns-914533.html


So he got the runaround from unprofessional Gardai in Blanch who thought they would have a laugh by sending him on a fools errand to Garda HQ in the Phoenix Park who then sent him to Cabra Gardai and who then sent him back to Blanch Gardai where he had started. Gardai deal with all sections of society every day and that includes people with mental health issues. That doesn't give them the right to take the p1ss out of someone who has legitimate concerns. Every citizen has the right to go into a Garda station and be treated professionally, heck its even in their Code of Conduct displayed in every station in the country. But I've no doubt you will defend unprofessional policing, as you've done many times on these Boards in the past. Would it have been so hard for them to give him the contact details of the Chief Fire Officer? Clearly it was :rolleyes:k

https://www.thejournal.ie/irish-water-protest-arrest-1489206-May2014/

"Videos of the arrest have emerged, showing Rochford discussing the problems the homeowners in the estate have had with their heating and water systems with gardaí.

He says he has tried to have the problems fixed through contacting the local authorities, TDs and the Department of the Environment.

He blames the lack of regulation in the plumbing sector for the fault and believes he should not be charged for water."

https://www.thejournal.ie/hunger-striker-chains-himself-into-bank-1268301-Jan2014/

"TONY ROCHFORD, WHO last summer held a hunger strike outside the Dáil has ended a three-hour sit-in at a bank branch.

Rochford was angered by what Ulster Bank placing a judgement on his mortgage, something he says he had tried to avoid because it could have a disastrous effect on him.

“I’m self-employed, so that judgement destroys my credit score and could harm my business.”"

https://www.thejournal.ie/tony-rochford-hunger-strike-990310-Jul2013/

"Rochford, who was on hunger strike for 23 days, this morning met with Fine Gael TDs Damien English and Ray Butler and outlined to them his inability to obtain a tax clearance cert over his non-payment of the property tax."


Doesn't pay his mortgage, doesn't pay his property tax, doesn't pay his water charges.

It is very difficult to take anything he says seriously. He clearly is one of those who blames the government for everything without a filter.

You can get the name and contact details of the Chief Fire Officer in around ten seconds on google.

http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services/dublin-fire-brigade-and-ambulance-service

I think though you are right, the Gardai should have referred him on to the mental health services.

Muahahaha

Well then the Garda should have googled the Chief Fire Officers number and given it to him, send him on his way with the info he needs. Thats all the Garda needed to do, Job done, simple as.

What they shouldn't have done is take the p1ss out of a man who clearly needed help and send him on a fools errand to the Phoenix Park HQ knowing well it is not a Garda office where members of the public go to report suspected crimes. Where he then gets sent to Cabra who then send him back to Blanch. And then he flips and causes three hour delays on the M50 and thousands of euro worth of damage.

People with all sorts of mental health difficulties end up in Garda stations all the time, Alzheimers, dementia, schizophrenics, you name it. No matter what their mental condition they still have a right to be treated with respect and have their complaint addressed. That clearly did not happen this man in Blanchardtown Garda . Its no wonder AGS are trying to professionalise the force because incidents like this and the off duty Garda taking a Garda car and uniform to make porn movies shows they've some way to go yet.

Former Former

Right.

So why did he vandalise the M50 a second time the following year?

The Gardai are not at fault here. This is a man with a lot of problems (by his own admission). Do you think getting an email address for the fire brigade would have made any difference? Would it f*ck. If anyone can explain why taking an angle grinder to the toll plaza is a legitimate form of protest at Garda unprofessionalism then please enlighten me.

He's using the misfortune of the people of Verdemont for his own ends and that's not right.

Muahahaha

Whos blaming the Gardai? He is clearly to blame for his own actions. I'm making the point that they treated him shoddily, a professional Garda would have dealt with the situation professionally as per their own code of conduct. Are you saying the Gardai in Blanch sending him on a fools errand to Phoenix Park HQ was the correct course of action? If you do then you're accepting of very low standards in AGS. Gardai get cranks calling into the station all the time, they are the frontline for this stuff. Its not their place to laugh at their expense, treat them with respect and send them on their way, this isn't rocket science.

Former Former

Muahahaha wrote: »

Whos blaming the Gardai? He is clearly to blame for his own actions. I'm making the point that they treated him shoddily, a professional Garda would have dealt with the situation professionally as per their own code of conduct. Are you saying the Gardai in Blanch sending him on a fools errand to Phoenix Park HQ was the correct course of action? If you do then you're accepting of very low standards in AGS. Gardai get cranks calling into the station all the time, they are the frontline for this stuff. Its not their place to laugh at their expense, treat them with respect and send them on their way, this isn't rocket science.

It seems you're taking everything this guy said at face value and as 100% accurate. I'd question the wisdom of that.

Muahahaha

Former Former wrote: »

It seems you're taking everything this guy said at face value and as 100% accurate. I'd question the wisdom of that.

What he said happened was said in an open court under oath and reported by the media. Are you claiming that he is lying about being sent to three different Garda stations and the Gardai witnesses in court didn't contradict him in their evidence and/or the media didn't report this contradiction? I'd question your own wisdom if you think the Gardai would allow him (or anyone) to make up lies about them and then let those lies go unchallenged in an open court room. I think it is pretty clear he is telling the truth about being sent to three different Garda stations and the Gardai didn't challenge him on this in court because a) they know he is telling the truth and b) CCTV evidence would prove he attended all three Garda stations. If he was lying on this then he would have been found out in open court, that simply didn't happen, ergo his story stacks up as far as the judge is concerned.

So tell me, do you think the Gardai acted professionally by sending a man they clearly knew to have mental health issues on a fools errand, mocking him in the process? Would you be happy if they treated a member of your own family like that? Somehow I doubt it yet you havent condemned this unprofessional behaviour, instead you're being an apologist for it. Every citizen has a right to be treated professionally and with respect by the Gardai, it is literally written on the wall of every station in the country. Its not much to ask them to at least meet that minimum of standards but in this instance they clearly did not.

Jaster Rogue

Take it to PM lads, yer going round in circles.

Former Former

Muahahaha wrote: »

What he said happened was said in an open court under oath and reported by the media.

No, it wasn't. You're not reading the reports correctly. He pleaded guilty to the offences so he never testified. The only thing that was reported from the court was his barrister (not under oath) saying he "felt he got the runaround".

Muahahaha wrote: »

Are you claiming that he is lying about being sent to three different Garda stations and the Gardai witnesses in court didn't contradict him in their evidence and/or the media didn't report this contradiction? I'd question your own wisdom if you think the Gardai would allow him (or anyone) to make up lies about them and then let those lies go unchallenged in an open court room. I think it is pretty clear he is telling the truth about being sent to three different Garda stations and the Gardai didn't challenge him on this in court because a) they know he is telling the truth and b) CCTV evidence would prove he attended all three Garda stations. If he was lying on this then he would have been found out in open court, that simply didn't happen, ergo his story stacks up as far as the judge is concerned.

He didn't give evidence so none of the above applies. The Gardai can't challenge a barrister's summation.

Muahahaha wrote: »

So tell me, do you think the Gardai acted professionally by sending a man they clearly knew to have mental health issues on a fools errand, mocking him in the process? Would you be happy if they treated a member of your own family like that? Somehow I doubt it yet you havent condemned this unprofessional behaviour, instead you're being an apologist for it. Every citizen has a right to be treated professionally and with respect by the Gardai, it is literally written on the wall of every station in the country. Its not much to ask them to at least meet that minimum of standards but in this instance they clearly did not.

I think you have a bit of a grievance with the Gardai.

blanch152

Muahahaha wrote: »

Whos blaming the Gardai? He is clearly to blame for his own actions. I'm making the point that they treated him shoddily, a professional Garda would have dealt with the situation professionally as per their own code of conduct. Are you saying the Gardai in Blanch sending him on a fools errand to Phoenix Park HQ was the correct course of action? If you do then you're accepting of very low standards in AGS. Gardai get cranks calling into the station all the time, they are the frontline for this stuff. Its not their place to laugh at their expense, treat them with respect and send them on their way, this isn't rocket science.

I actually think the Gardai treated him quite well. 40 years ago they would have called an ambulance and he would have been locked up in an institution for 20 years.

You blame the Gardai for everything, expecting omni-knowledge of everybody who calls to their door. The poor ordinary Garda who met that plonker wasn't to know that he was dealing with the Walter Mitty of Dublin 15.

djan

I see now that various apartments and duplexes are beginning to come up for sale again with no change in prices over the past 2 years.

Out of interest I did call up one of the estate agents and asked about the fire regs issues being resolved but they couldn't give a definitive answer.

There was a lot about it in the news given that the remedial works would be up to 60k per apartment so I'm wondering what actually happened?

ladystardust

As far as I'm aware, nothing has happened really. The place is still a fire hazard but now there is a fire warden 24/7, (who certainly didn't answer the phone when we called ). I believe owners are still hoping to pursue a legal challenge but it sounds like its sitting on a big pile in someone's inbox for years and gathering dust. Im always surprised when someone buys one. We liked living there but wouldn't buy into that mess.