An Taisce has demanded that Castlebar Town Council take legal action against the owners of the former Lord Lucan's bank building, which subsequently became a convent, over its demolition of the historic property.
Bulldozers moved in last month following complaints from gardaí to the Donegal-based owners that the property had become a safety hazard. This followed a spate of arson attacks by youths who used the unoccupied building as a drinking den.
In a statement yesterday, An Taisce said it considered the property-owners had "committed an act of contempt" against the town by destroying the building.
"The unauthorised demolition is one of the worst to affect an Irish town since that of the Drogheda Grammar School in 1989. It is widely recognised that Irish local authorities are ineffective in pursuing their enforcement powers. For this reason, property-developers are not adequately deterred from initiating unauthorised developments.
"Castlebar Town Council must send out a strong signal that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated either in Castlebar or any town. Instead of achieving financial gain by this unauthorised demolition, the developer must face financial penalty.
"The council must further explain what action it has taken over the last year under the Planning Acts and Derelict Sites Acts to secure the maintenance of the former convent."
A spokesman for the owners of the property explained yesterday that following the most recent fire, the building had been inspected by a structural engineer. His advice was that the building be demolished immediately for reasons of public safety. "We had absolutely no option," the spokesman claimed.
The owners of the property had been written to by Garda Supt Joe Staunton informing them the building was totally unsafe and reminding them of their obligations in the matter, the spokesman added.