Cork City Council is considering whether to compel a developer to rebuild a historic church which was partially demolished without planning permission to construct a series of student apartments.
A spokeswoman for the council's planning department confirmed yesterday that the partial demolition of the old Capuchin Friary off Blackamore Lane behind Sullivan's Quay near the city centre had been carried out with planning permission.
"This morning a number of planning department officials met the developer, Eric Treacy, at the site and, following a preliminary examination of the site, he was formally asked to cease development and was advised that the work was an unauthorised development," she said.
Mr Treacy's application had been granted on the basis that the old chapel - which was built in the late 18th century and later used by Father Mathew - was to be incorporated into his development of student apartments.
"It was an integral part of the planning permission that it was to be incorporated into the proposed development. Nowhere in the planning permission does it mention that the building was to be demolished," the spokeswoman said.
The planning department would have a further meeting with Mr Treacy next week and would then consider the options, including legal options. Among the options open to the council was compelling Mr Treacy to restore the chapel, she said.
Mr Treacy could not be contacted yesterday, but he told the Irish Examiner that when contractors removed part of the roof some days ago, cracks developed in the gable wall of the church, making it unsafe, and it had to be demolished.
But Mr Arthur Leahy, a member of the nearby Quay Co-op, who contacted the council when he saw the chapel being demolished, said he believed that, although some two-thirds of the chapel had been demolished, including a wall with a fine fanlight window, it could still be rebuilt, and the City Council should compel Mr Treacy to restore the building to its former state.
