Garda who rented out 'shed' sacked over property dealings

A LANDLORD who was found to have three adults and an 18-month-old baby living in a garden shed heated by an oven has been sacked…

A LANDLORD who was found to have three adults and an 18-month-old baby living in a garden shed heated by an oven has been sacked from his job as a garda over his property dealings.

Kevin Galvin, who is in his 30s and lives in Furry Park Road, Killester, north Dublin, was a member of An Garda Síochána working in information technology at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin.

His dismissal from the force was approved by Cabinet in recent weeks and has since come into effect.

Mr Galvin, who joined the Garda 12 years ago, was convicted late last year on three counts under health and safety legislation relating to a number of properties he was renting out.

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An internal Garda inquiry following his conviction has now resulted in his dismissal.

Dublin City Council is also taking legal action against him and has been granted High Court injunctions ordering him to vacate two properties.

The council has been granted permission to take proceedings in relation to a third property. The case is due back before the High Court on Monday.

During the initial High Court hearing last month, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy was told two of the properties rented out by Mr Galvin represented “a clear and present danger”.

At one of the properties, on Phibsboro Road, north Dublin, three adults and a baby were living in what was described as a shed in the back yard heated by an oven.

The other property, at Cabra Park, Phibsboro, was divided into flats. During a safety inspection an electricity distribution board was found to have blackened marks, believed to have been caused by fire.

A fire prevention officer deemed the Cabra Park and Phibsboro Road properties to be a fire hazard and a risk to the tenants.

There were concerns over wiring, lack of emergency lighting, lack of fire extinguishers, properly working fire alarms, doors and windows.

The case against Mr Galvin is being taken by Dublin City Council under Section 23 of the Fire Safety Act.

James Connolly SC for the council told the court the application on behalf of the council was unusual but was being brought because of the “seriousness” of the situation.

Fire safety notifications issued to Mr Galvin in April 2008 did not appear to have been acted upon.

Mr Justice McCarthy granted the council injunctions ordering the two properties to be vacated.

He also granted the council permission to commence proceedings in relation to a third property owned by Mr Galvin, also at Cabra Park.

Efforts by The Irish Timesin recent days to contact Mr Galvin were not successful.