Residents and politicians reacted angrily to the demolition of a Presbyterian church in Dublin yesterday, which went ahead despite a last-minute plea by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
The disused church's owner, the Presbyterian Residential Trust, was accused by politicians and residents of "arrogance" and "vandalism" in demolishing the building at Tritonville Road, Sandymount.
There were emotional reactions from about 60 local people, politicians and heritage group members who met outside the 140-year-old building as the demolition began shortly before 10 a.m. yesterday.
Before yesterday's development, the Minister, Ms de Valera, had said the church was of architectural significance and professional advice available to her showed it could be restored. The trust has been granted planning permission by Dublin Corporation to demolish the building to construct 17 sheltered units for the elderly and eight two-bedroom private apartments. The trust already operates sheltered accommodation behind the church, which had not been used for 20 years and was not listed.
A trust spokesman yesterday defended its actions and said it had dealt reasonably with residents and politicians in a recent series of meetings on the church's future. "The trust members felt it had reached the point where they had heard all the proposals, they had considered them and felt there was no viable alternative to the demolition of the church." Gardai stood at a perimeter fence as workmen with excavation equipment tore the building down in about four hours. One resident, Ms Clare Wheeler, gained access to the church grounds and remained there during the demolition.
Another resident said a workman told her they wanted to carry out tests, but when she stood aside to let the team enter, they began the demolition.
Other onlookers included the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn; Green Party TD Mr John Gormley; Ms Mary Banotti MEP; and councillors, Mr Dermot Lacey, from the Labour Party, and Mr Ciaran Cuffe, from the Green Party.
Mr Quinn, in whose constituency the church was situated, said the demolition was "an outrageous act of wanton vandalism" and criticised the trust for not accepting a compromise put forward by senior Dublin Corporation officials to convert the building.
Mr Cuffe accused the trust of "acting like a speculative developer" and ignoring the views of the community, local politicians and heritage bodies.
Mr Lacey said the demolition was the act of "extraordinarily arrogant body which is totally ignoring the overwhelming wishes of the community". Mr Gormley, who also represents the area, said "even Philistines would have been ashamed of such wanton destruction". Ms Valerin Yeaton, from An Taisce, said the heritage group was "deeply saddened and shocked by the demolition". The Heritage Council also deplored the demolition.