The demolition of Turvey House, Donabate, Co Dublin, a listed building, was arranged by Mr James Gogarty and it did not happen overnight as he had told the tribunal in evidence, counsel for JMSE suggested yesterday. Mr James Gogarty said he rejected that completely.
Mr Garrett Cooney SC, for JMSE, was cross-examining Mr Gogarty on his evidence that the demolition took place overnight and that Mr George Redmond, a former assistant Dublin city and county manager, had said at a meeting in Clontarf Castle that he (Mr Redmond) had stuck his neck out and put himself at risk over Turvey House.
Mr Cooney said Mr Gogarty told the tribunal Turvey House was "demolished overnight" and that there was a bit of a furore be cause environmental groups were annoyed. He said that conveyed the impression that Mr Gogarty had little or nothing to do with the demolition. He suggested the information that the building was demolished overnight was inaccurate and misleading.
Mr Gogarty: "Oh, no way, no, I reject that completely." Mr Cooney said they had documents of ongoing correspondence between Dublin County Council and Turvey Estates. In January 1986, the council had said Turvey House was in a "ruinous and dangerous condition". Following other correspondence, a council letter stated the building was dangerous and subsequently a dangerous building order was served. On May 4th, 1987, a letter was sent from the council asking Mr Gogarty to demolish the premises within three days. Asked if he remembered that, Mr Gogarty said he could not recall it. Mr Liam Conroy (chief executive, JMSE) was there and looking after that. Mr Cooney suggested that Mr Gogarty was the person dealing exclusively with this. The notice of demolition was addressed to him.
Mr Gogarty said it was addressed to him. It was written to him as director, he was not the owner of it.
Mr Cooney referred to a letter of May 1987, from Turvey Estates, which was signed on Mr Gogarty's behalf by H. Russell and sent to council which invited tenders for demolition. Mr Gogarty said H. Russell was Mr Conroy's secretary. Mr Cooney said: "It doesn't seem likely as an overnight job, does it?" Mr Gogarty replied: "I don't know what you're implying there."
Mr Cooney said it appeared he invited tenders. "That is quite possible, yes," said Mr Gogarty.
Mr Cooney said another letter confirmed that Burke Plant Hire Developments Ltd was contracted to JMSE to carry out the work.
Mr Gogarty said just for the record Mr Reynolds would have been in on those discussions.
Mr Cooney said there was not a single mention of Mr Reynolds in any of the documentation so far. Mr Cooney said a council memo dated July 21st, 1987, stated that demolition started on Monday, July 13th, 1987. An official visited the site again on July 14th and 15th and found that work was progressing in a satisfactory manner. The final inspection was carried out on July 16th.
Mr Cooney put it to the witness that he was fully aware of the progress of the demolition over three days.
Mr Gogarty said: "Not fully correct. The demolition work was completed overnight, that's my understanding, clearing up, taverning into the ground, that continued on. But the building was destroyed, the building was finished overnight."