Garda Sergeant Patrick Martin, Mountjoy Garda Station, told the court that when gardaí turned up at the property at 9 Belvedere Place, Dublin, last night they found that all of the defendants had gone and the property was in the hands of a private security company

The judge said profound health and fire safety issues existed at the property, which is divided into 10 flats

Ms Justice Emily Farrell said Laksmee Bissuessur and Philip Smith put forward “no legitimate basis” for their occupation of the premises, which belongs to the estates of Adeline and Rita Keppel.

The lifting of the stay by Mr Justice Rory Mulchay today means that the entire site at 364-374 North Circular Road, and 168-89 Phibsborough Road in Dublin 7.