Mallow park owners fail to disclose asking price

A FORMER equerry to Princess Diana and his brother have still not disclosed how much they want to hand the freehold of Mallow Town Park to the town council.

It is understood that they rejected a previous offer of €500,000 some months ago.

The 24-acre park was leased to the town council by a relative of former equerry Patrick Jephson and his brother, Michael, in 1907. The 99-year-lease ran out on October 31 last but the brothers gave the town council six months’ grace for further negotiations.

“I think it’s well known the town council has made an offer to the people concerned. But there hasn’t been any advance in terms of an offer to sell being put to us from the other side,” county manager Maurice Moloney said.

He was replying to a query from Cllr Sean Sherlock (Lab).

“The general view is that Mallow Town Council shouldn’t give up the park, but should acquire it at the least cost to taxpayers.

“I want to look back in 20 years’ time and know we acted in the best interests of the people in Mallow,” Mr Sherlock said.

He added that he wanted to be sure that the council’s legal department checked every single detail on the title of the property so no mistakes were made.

Cllr Noel O’Connor (FG) said he had confidence that council management would conclude a deal.

“The whole idea of the town park not belonging to the people beggars belief. It’s a crisis at this stage,” Mr O’Connor said.

Councillors Dan Joe Fitzgerald (FF) and Tom Sheahan (FG) told the county manager that the town park was a facility which shouldn’t be lost.

However, Mr Moloney reiterated that at this stage the council hadn’t been approached with another asking price.