Sinn Fein has welcomed news that a Co Londonderry-based property developer, Tom McFeely - who is a director of Coalport Developments - was to be jailed and fined for contempt for failing to remedy fire risks at a Dublin apartment complex.

Yesterday, Sinn Fein Dublin City Councillor Mícheál Mac Donncha welcomed the decision of the High Court to order his now delayed imprisonment.

Cllr Mac Donncha called on Environment and Local Government Minister Phil Hogan to intervene to address the complex issues to assist the now evacuated Priory Hall residents.

He also called on the City Council management to withdraw its appeal to the Supreme Court of the High Court's order to the Council to provide for the emergency accommodation needs of the Priory Hall evacuees.

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Speaking before the reprieve, he said: "I welcome the High Court decision to imprison Tom McFeely who has visited such distress on the residents of Priory Hall and such expense on the public purse.

"Clearly the issues involved in the Priory Hall situation are so complex and wide-ranging that they cannot be left to the residents themselves and Dublin City Council to resolve. Minister Hogan must intervene and help ensure that a comprehensive solution is found involving residents, the City Council and mortgage lenders.

"The Building Control report to Dublin City Council, due to have been received on 16 November, will show extensive construction problems with Priory Hall, above and beyond fire safety issues.

"I again call on Dublin City Council management to withdraw its appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court order for it to address the accommodation needs of the Priory Hall evacuees."

However, the Co Londonderry man has since won a reprieve as, on Thursday afternoon, the Supreme Court in Dublin agreed that the sentence should be stayed pending a full appeal.

(CD)