The former assistant Dublin city and county manager, Mr George Redmond, had no role in authorising the demolition of a listed building which became the subject of a "Section Four" resolution by members of the council, the Flood tribunal heard yesterday.
Mr Tom Doherty, now a South County Dublin official and a former principal officer with the Dublin County Council's development department for the acquisition and management of property, was describing events surrounding the demolition of Turvey House in Donabate.
Mr Anthony Harris, solicitor for Mr Redmond, said the confirmation of no direct involvement by Mr Redmond in initiating the demolition order was important in view of Mr James Gogarty's evidence that the former assistant city and country manager had told him in 1989 that he had "stuck his neck out over Turvey House".
Mr Doherty said that as far back as 1973, a report by an architect in the council's planning department had found that Turvey House had been allowed to deteriorate and had gone beyond the point of possible preservation.
A more recent report by the planning department, in January 1986, noted that Turvey House was in an "extremely ruinous condition" despite being listed for preservation. Nonetheless, the planning department would not recommend that the house should be demolished.
The following month, the development department referred the matter to Mr Maurice O'Brien, senior executive architect in charge of dangerous buildings. In March, the council boarded up the building and sought to recover costs of £274 from the owners, unknown at the time. It transpired that the owner was Turvey Estates and that the person in charge was Mr Gogarty.
On April 30th, 1987, Mr O'Brien, on foot of a further report on Turvey House, recommended a draft order in two parts for the demolition of the outbuildings (not listed) and the house itself.
"This was sent to me as a recommendation to serve notice to that effect on the owner," Mr Doherty told the tribunal. He had then inspected the house "to see if there was any alternative".
"I concluded, too, that there was no alternative but to demolish the house, in accordance with the recommendation of a professional architect."
Turvey Estates was given three days' notice to demolish the building. Demolition began on the morning of Monday, July 13th, and gave rise to a public outcry.
This was followed by a Section Four resolution by members of the county council which allows elected members of a local authority to intervene directly and if necessary to overturn a decision by the full-time management.
Mr Redmond had dealt with the press and public briefings then, said Mr Doherty, and had appeared before the council to answer general questions.
He himself had a major input in the preparation of specific matters in the report put before council. The council was reassured when it got this report and was shown slides of the state of the building.