The urban heritage of Smithfield should be protected and not destroyed after a historic distillery was demolished, it has been claimed.
The Irish Distillers Building in Smithfield Square was demolished in April, despite part of its east wall having to be retained under planning permission.
But it has emerged that the demolition of the protected structure was approved by Dublin City Council after a structural issue was found.
The council has said that it has instructed the developer, Linders of Smithfield, to rebuild the eastern part of the wall as part of the ongoing development.
Permission was received by Linders of Smithfield in 2016 for construction of a substantial office development on a large site running between Smithfield and Bow Street, to include incorporation of part of the stone unlisted former Irish Distillers building.
Smithfield and Bow Street are within a designated Conservation Area under the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-22.
An Taisce have slammed the demolition and said there is an "established procedure" for retaining such a facade - which they claim was not followed.
An Taisce said: "Under the planning permission, the two-storey Bow Street elevation of the building, plus two further sections wrapping around the corner onto New Church Street and the Luas line, were to be retained and incorporated within the new office development.
"The applicant, Linders of Smithfield, undertook unauthorised demolition of the building in April, maintaining afterwards that a safety issue had arisen with the stability of the building.
"There is an established procedure for retaining a historic facade, which was not followed.
"Modern building conservation practice allows easy remedy of any stability problems arising in historic structures, through provision of structural support prior to demolition.
"Demolition of the structure, required to be maintained as part of the planning permission, is unjustifiable."
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Fine Gael candidate for Dublin Central Deirdre Duffy said: "If we find that this was an unauthrised demolition then those that were responsible need to be held to task.
"Smithfield is a perfect example of our urban heritage and we should be protecting it not destroying it."
A Dublin City Council spokeswoman told Dublin Live: "Approval was given by Dublin City Council to demolish the building except for the eastern wall but when the demolition happened, the developer discovered a structural issue which meant that the eastern wall would also need to be demolished.
"Dublin City Council gave approval for this on Health and Safety grounds. However, the developer has been instructed to rebuild the eastern wall as part of the works."
