Council hint at legal action over Dun an Oir

A SENIOR official with Cork County Council has hinted that the authority may yet have to take legal action to resolve the ongoing controversy over six unfinished houses at an estate in Kanturk.

In September Liz Donovan, District Officer of the council’s Kanturk/Mallow Municipal Area, confirmed a receiver had finally been appointed to oversee the Dun an Oir estate.

She said officials had been in contact with the receiver, who had committed to provide a structural report on the six houses in question.

“We will wait to see if they recommend demolition or refurbishment,” she told county councillors for the area.

At last Friday’s November area committee meeting it emerged that while the receiver had delivered a report on the houses to council officials, they were not happy with it.

“At this stage we have met with the receiver on a number of occasions and have a report from them into the situation at Dun and Oir. However, we are not completely satisfied with that report,” Ms Donovan told councillors.

Cllr Tommy Collins (Ind), one of a number of councillors that have raised the issue of Dun an Oir at meetings over the past couple of years, asked Ms Donovan what the specific problem was with the report.

“The receiver has outlined a number of options for the houses, but no time-frame for works. We need to be satisfied that a detailed plan of works with specific time-frames has been put in place before any further progress can be made,” she said.

“At the moment the issue is in the hands of the county solicitor’s office and we are seeking advice from them,” she added.