A Ballinahown native has sparked widespread controversy following his heated - and very public - arguments with Dublin City Council. 62 year old Noel O’Gara appeared at a Bord Pleanala hearing last week in an effort to block a compulsory purchase order (CPO) against him. Mr O’Gara bought the formerly public Dartmouth Square in Ranelagh, the subject of the case, last December.

The property developer and businessman promptly locked the gates of the former public amenity, much to the chagrin of local South Dublin residents. Dublin County Council have since issued the CPO as they wish to buy back the land in order to keep it as a public park. The Council acquired the lease on the land from a religious order in 1987, and maintained it as a public park for 19 years. Mr O’Gara has blasted the residents, as he believes they are trying to get the council to “maintain and manicure” the two acre grounds for their own benefit.

Following his purchase of Dartmouth Square in 2005, Noel O’Gara claimed that he had paid a nominal sum for the land, allegedly less than €500,000. Auctioneers have since valued the land at between €15m and €20m.

Posted: 08|2|06 at 9:11 am. Filed under: Property & Land.