CROKE PARK has issued legal proceedings against a number of residents in the vicinity of the stadium in a continuing dispute over the GAA’s plans to redevelop a local community and handball centre.
At least 10 members of the Croke Park Streets Committee received civil bills indicating the stadium’s intention to take them to court.
This relates to their continued refusal to vacate the existing handball sports facilities on St Joseph’s Avenue, which are to be demolished and replaced with a new €9 million development.
An Bord Pleanála granted permission last August for the development, which is almost three times the size of the existing centre and includes some 500sq m of office space in addition to sports, recreation and community facilities.
Eamon O’Brien, chairman of the Croke Park Streets Community Association and a member of the handball and community committee, said he was among those issued with court proceedings. “Around 10 of us received the civil bills around two to three weeks before Christmas,” he said.
“We the community will not allow the facility to be taken off us by Croke Park. The centre was vested in Croke Park and they had an obligation to ensure that the facility remains in place for the benefit of the community.”
Mr O’Brien said he and his fellow members would not budge on the matter until they are provided with a full replacement of the facilities they currently enjoy.
Croke Park stadium director Peter McKenna said he was left with no choice but to issue proceedings against those blocking the demolition of the centre.
“This dispute couldn’t turn any more nasty than it is now. We entered into three months of talks with the members of the handball club, which they just walked away from in the end.”
He said he was more than frustrated that a project with the potential to create 90 jobs was being obstructed in the manner it was. “If we were an American company that flew in with such investment and redevelopment plans we would be hailed local heroes, but instead we are being made out to be the big baddies,” he said.
Croke Park had hoped to hold this year’s world championships in the redeveloped facility but they will now be held in City West.