An investigation is under way into the demolition of an historic listed building in Sligo over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Sligo Borough Council said yesterday it is still trying to determine the owner of the building, Cairnsfoot House, and that it is considering enforcement action under the Planning Act.
Historic Cairnsfoot House, built in the early 19th century and situated to the east of the town on Cranmore Lane, had been associated with a number of important Sligo families.
A council spokesman confirmed yesterday that the building is listed in the record of protected structures in the Sligo and Environs Development Plan 2004-2010.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, the penalty for demolishing a listed building, on conviction, is a fine of up to €12.5 million and a possible prison term of two years.
"The house was protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 and was included in the register known as the record of Protected Structures," a council spokesman said. A council spokesman told The Irish Times that they are still trying to establish who owns the building.
The house was purchased by a German family in the 1960s and they developed the property as apartments.
However, it become vacant in recent years and was boarded up after being damaged by a fire.
The council spokesman said yesterday that notification of the house's protected status was served to a person who was associated with the building last year. But he stressed that they have yet to establish who the present legal owner is.
Labour Party alderman, Mr Declan Bree, yesterday described the demolition of the house as "outrageous" and "an act of wanton vandalism".
He said: "Nobody, whether they are an owner or a tenant, has the right to interfere with, cause damage to, or demolish a listed building without the express authority of the council.
"If developers and speculators get away with such actions it would make nonsense of our planning laws and would allow open season on our listed buildings and our heritage."