One of Dublin's leading property developers, Dermot Pierce, has died after a long illness at the age of 52. He handled two of the most significant commercial developments in Dublin over the past two decades - one of them the Earlsfort Centre, on Earlsfort Terrace, which includes some of Dublin's most prestigious offices, the Conrad Hotel, an apart-hotel and an apartment block. He also masterminded East Point Business Park, in the Dublin docklands, which has over one million sq ft of office space. Before moving to Earlsfort, he was managing director of Abbey Properties for seven years up to 1987.

Mr Pierce, who set up his own consultancy last year, worked in three Dublin estate agencies before joining Abbey. He was an active sportsman, having played rugby for Clontarf in his youth. He was also a former captain of Woodbrook Golf Club. He is survived by his wife, Joan; sons Killian and Gavin, and daughter Melissa.