Court hears of concern for fire safety at Direct Provision centre in Killarney

Anne Lucey

A court has heard there are “very serious and grave concerns” about fire safety at a direct provision centre in Killarney.

Kingscourt Harmony Inn, a former guesthouse, on the Muckross Road, Killarney is currently occupied by 67 men and three staff, the civil District court in Killarney has been told.

The court heard Kerry County Council had serve it with a fire safety notice and Harmony Inn is appealing against the notice.

Barrister for Harmony Inn, Eliza Kelleher, said her fire safety expert was unavailable and she was seeking an adjournment and this had been flagged in December, before Christmas. . However Ms Kelleher acknowledged “certain concerns” had been raised by the council.

Barrister for Kerry County Council Richard Liston said lan appeal would simply act as a stay.

Kerry’s chief fire officer was in court, Mr Liston said.“There are very serious and grave concerns,”.

The building was occupied by 67 people and three staff, he said.

“This is an urgent matter and some resolution has to be achieved today on behalf of the council,” Mr Liston said.

Judge David Waters said the court had to be “very mindful” of fire safety and if risk to life was an issue and there would have to be some hearing of the issues.

Risk to life “ is the issue, “ Mr Liston for the council said.

The parties agreed to enter discussions and left the court room to do so to return later on Tuesday.

Boxes of documents and photographs are forming part of the discussions.

The 22-bedroom Harmony Inn Kingscourt opened controversially as an all-male direct provision centre at the end of November.

Hundreds of locals attended public meetings to voice objections. A silent march through the town under the banner “Killarney has its fair share” took place also. However, the plans went ahead and up to 75 men are to be accommodated there.

Council management had also appealed to the Department of Children to postpone saying because of the high numbers of refugees already in Killarney, among the highest of any local authority area in the country, health, education and other services were “at capacity”.

Killarney and the wider area now has around 4,000 Ukranian refugees and temporary protection applicants.