Legal action over Apollo House occupation concludes

A High Court action over the occupation of Apollo House in Dublin city centre has formally ended.

Mr Justice Paul Gilligan was told on Friday by barrister Stephen Dowling, for receivers appointed by the National Asset Management Agency over the building, that all items of property, including furniture and beds, which had been brought into the building for the occupation, have been removed.

A large amount of furniture was donated by members of the public to the Home Sweet Home coalition during its occupation of the Tara Street building. All persons who had occupied Apollo House had left by January 12th.

However, the legal action, in which the receivers sought orders ending alleged illegal trespass, was adjourned on several occasions so the items brought into the building could be removed.

On Friday, the judge welcomed the news that had happened and struck out the proceedings with no order.

Solicitor Gary Daly, who represented the defendants – musician Glen Hansard, trade unionist Brendan Ogle and activists Aisling Hedderman and Carrie Hennessy, all members of the Irish Housing Network group which is part of the coalition, thanked the judge.

The occupation began in December when the building was offered as accommodation to the homeless by the Home Sweet Home coalition.

The receivers later secured a High Court injunction requiring the occupiers to leave the building. Mr Justice Gilligan placed a stay on that order allowing the occupants to remain on until noon on Wednesday, January 11th.

An application for an extension of the deadline was refused and all the residents left on January 12th.