The Sunday Times

Fresh controversy over the demolition of a 1940s listed building in Dublin emerged this weekend when it was revealed that planning consultants for the owner, Noe O'Callaghan, the Bord Failte (Irish Tourist Board) director and hotelier, had officially been told of its listed status just four days before it was razed. A Dublin Corporation planning memo, released under the Freedom of Information Act, states that the office of Frank Benson, O'Callaghan's planning adviser, contacted the council on June 1 "regarding the listing status" of the former Archer's Garage. The consultants were "advised that it was a List 1 building", according to the memo, written by Michael J Reynolds, a senior planner. Archer's, the first building in Ireland made in reinforced concrete, was demolished on the morning of Saturday, June 5, at the beginning of a bank holiday weekend. O'Callaghan has said that neither he nor any of the directors of Sherborough Securities, the owners, were aware that it was listed.