Developer seeks €40m after State failed to honour ‘land swap’ deal

A development company says it is €40 million in the red because the State did not honour an agreement to give it a building used as a Garda station, the Commercial Court has heard.

Durkan New Homes built 215 affordable houses for first-time buyers in the boom in return for getting possession of Harcourt Terrace Garda Station, Dublin, along with the adjoining film censor’s office, the court was told.

The company is suing the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government claiming there was a failure to go through with this “swap”.