Inquiry call into cost of ‘dead’ Menlo Castle plan

Date Published: 15-Mar-2012

BY CIARAN TIERNEY

A full-scale inquiry should be carried out into the cost of an ill-fated €12 million project to restore Menlo Castle which dragged on for well over a decade, according to a member of Galway City Council.

Five families have been waiting 12 years for compensation since being issued with Compulsory Purchase Orders following a full oral hearing which took place at the Menlo Park Hotel in 2000.

The private businessman’s plans to redevelop the 17th century building, in return for a 2.150 square foot luxury penthouse on the top floor, have since been abandoned by the City Council.

Businessman Noel Smyth, a former adviser to late Taoiseach Charlie Haughey, Ben Dunne of Dunnes Stores, and Bishop of Ferns Dr Brendan Cumiskey, had his assets taken over by the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

Cllr Frank Fahy (FG) said it was just not good enough that the five Menlo families had not received “one red cent” 12 years on from the full oral hearing.

Cllr Fahy has asked the local authority to clarify the Council’s total spend on the project, including legal costs and land acquisitions since the full oral hearing led to the issuing of the CPOs back in December 2000.

“The families who fought the British for the rights to this land have not been paid and I would like to know what legal fees were paid for the CPOs, which were issued almost 12 years ago,” he said. “There should be an inquiry held into this.”

The 17th century castle has been derelict since it was gutted by a fire 102 years.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.