The Health Service Executive has taken charge of a Dublin nursing home and its residents after the Health Information and Quality Authority secured a court order cancelling its registration.
Concerns had arisen about the safety and health of patients at Rostrevor House Nursing Home.
HIQA secured the interim order last Friday in the Dublin District Court cancelling the registration of the home, which is located on Orwell Road in Rathgar.
The HSE took over the care of patients at 5pm on Friday.
It said its priority is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the patients at the nursing home.
It plans to look for alternative accommodation for the patients in cooperation with their families.
The home, which opened in 1985, cares for around 23 older people including those with dementia.
A HIQA inspection report on the home in April 2010 found that it was well managed.
In 2005, Rostrevor House Nursing Home was fined €8,000 by the Dublin District Court for ten breaches of regulations.
The failures related to nursing care, the keeping of medication and the nursing home environment.
According to An Bord Altranais, three nurses who worked at the home were struck off the register for professional misconduct.
A male nurse, Stuart William Cummings, who it was alleged had sexual conduct with an elderly nursing home resident in 2005, was found guilty of professional misconduct.
His superiors, the proprietor Ann Teresa Connolly and the matron Emelina Makinano Navale, were also found guilty of misconduct for failing to take appropriate action or failing to manage the matter.
The HSE also took court action in 2004 to try to close the home.
