‘Insensitive’ tower design Desmond’s sole concern
Billionaire Businessman Dermot Desmond was motivated by an interest in architecture and the protection of Ballsbridge, Dublin and Ireland, in his opposition to Sean Dunne’s high-rise development, An Bord Pleanala has been told. Mr Desmond’s legal representative Michael O’Donnell said the design and location of the proposed development on the site of the former Jurys and Berkeley Court hotels in Ballsbridge was Mr Desmond’s sole concern. That concern and that concern only motivates his interest in these proceedings. Mr Desmond was the prime mover in the docklands area and the quality of the architecture of his developments was one of the main reasons for the success of that area, Mr O’Donnell said. Design was not just an aesthetic concern, but had a huge economic dimension, he said.
