A Green Party city councillor, Mr Ciaran Cuffe, has condemned the demolition of the Royal Oak pub in Parkgate Street, Dublin, before the corporation had made a decision on a planning application to demolish it.
"The demolition was illegal, as the 1994 planning regulations specify that permission is required to demolish buildings which form part of a terrace. It shows that stronger laws are needed to protect our heritage," he said.
Mr Cuffe, a candidate in Dublin Central, described the Royal Oak as a "fine Georgian building which should have been preserved" and said its demolition had caused particular concern to adjoining property owners.
The owners of the pub recently obtained permission to add another floor to the two storey building. Their most recent application sought permission to demolish the facade and erect a fourstorey building on the site.