THE MINISTER for the Environment has been asked to investigate why Drogheda Borough Council failed to protect 300-year-old beech trees felled early last Saturday morning by a property developer.
The trees were on Cromwell's Lane, believed to have been on the route Oliver Cromwell took to the town. The trees are on the grounds of Bayview House, which is recorded in the National Inventory of Architectural History. It is owned by Eugene O'Connor of Keal-Ryan developers in Meath, a director of Drogheda United FC. The club has its offices in Bayview House.
Mr O'Connor defended the felling and said it was done following a tree survey and was necessary for public safety. As a result of the survey his insurance underwriters said any liability relating to the trees was excluded from his cover. He said his legal advice was that: "I had a duty of care to have the trees removed as soon as possible, and if any trees fell on to the public road, I would be liable for any damage or loss of life or limb that would result. They were felled due to the genuine threat that they would split, or even snap, and fall out on to the busy Dublin Road in the near future," he added.
However the felling was described as "wanton vandalism" by local resident Kevin Tiernan. "People here are infuriated. Three hundred years of living history is gone."