Sir, - The report headlined "Beams for Haughey's home came from Dunnes Stores plant (August 9th) showed little understanding of demolition contracts. A contractor, when quoting for demolition work, takes into account the value of the building materials which can be salvaged from the site. The salvaged materials become the property of the contractor, who has a right to sell or dispose of them as he sees fit.
When my late husband, Garry Trimble, saw suitable beams on a demolition site in Limerick he most probably approached the contractor and made an offer for them on behalf of his client, Mr Haughey.
Occasionally a customer may, before demolition work commences, ask for specific items, such as beams, to be set aside for future use. It is unlikely that Dunnes Stores would have wished to retain old beams as they were clearing the site for a purpose-built store. However, if they did keep the beams in question and subsequently offered them to Mr Haughey as a gift, what wrong was done?
Let the matter rest. Garry cannot answer for himself and Mr Haughey has more than enough to contend with already. -Yours, etc.,
Mary Joan Trimble,
B.Arch M.I.D.I., The Lungy, Sligo.