OPW Whitehall Garda Station plan slammed by councillor

PROPOSALS to relocate the state pathologist and city coroner’s offices to the vacant Garda station at Whitehall have been criticised by a local councillor.

Cllr Cathleen Carney Boud (SF) lodged a formal objection to the plan with the Office of Public Works last week and put forward a motion on the subject to the North West Area Committee of Dublin City Council.

“The Garda Station in its current state is not suitable to facilitate this type of use,

? she argued.

“To accommodate a city mortuary, the building would need extensive refurbishment and any major alterations to the building would be in breach of the preservation orders.

?

Cllr Carney Boud says local residents are also opposed to the plans.

“A listed building of this type should be firstly be considered for the use of the community, before anything else,

? she added.

“I strongly urge the OPW to take our objections seriously and to cease plans to refurbish the premises for this purpose. Whitehall Garda Station should be preserved for the use of the local community.

?

The plan to relocate the state pathologist and city coroner’s offices from their current temporary base in Marino was welcomed earlier this year by local Fine Gael councillor, Noel Rock.

“It’s a positive outcome for Glasnevin and Whitehall and ensures that the building is no longer vacant, which is important for local residents as there had been a fear about the type of development that could have taken place here, with rumours of many things including a large nightclub,

? he said at the time.