Builders in narrow escape as Limerick landmark collapses
Four builders last night told of their lucky escape when part of the six-story building gave way.
A 60-foot wall at the site of the derelict Henry Cecil bar and night-club in Limerick city collapsed suddenly at lunchtime.
Four builders working on a new development adjacent to the former nightclub had been inside just two minutes before the incident.
One of the builders, who asked not to be named, said: "We were inside when dust and stones started to come down.
"We called the foreman and he rang the other two lads who were at another part and told them to get out. Within two minutes of us getting out the whole back of the building came down.
"There was dust all over the place, you couldn't see a thing," he added.
Built during the Georgian period, the former Henry Cecil nightclub which closed several years ago was a listed building and at one time was used as an mill.
Limerick City Council recently placed a protection order on the building and ordered that the facade had to be maintained if it was ever to be developed again.
The remaining part of the well-known city landmark had to be demolished yesterday evening for safety reasons.
Fire officers and crews were quick to arrive at the scene yesterday and the immediate area was sealed off.
Fire officer Don McCarthy said: "We made an assessment of the situation and made a roll-call of people involved and when everyone was accounted for we began securing the scene to make sure it was okay."
Motorists experienced huge delays yesterday evening as lower Cecil Street and parts of Henry Street remained closed to all traffic for several hours until the area was secured.
The Henry Cecil bar and nightclub closed in 1998 after 20-year-old Limerick woman Georgina O'Donnell was shot dead while socialising in the popular Limerick night-spot.
A man has been convicted of her murder.
