Part of shop front falls on city street
But a former mayor said if the incident had happened in a few weeks’ time, when schools were re-opened, there could have been a major tragedy.
The incident occurred in Nicholas Street around 9am. Some locals warned the street is a potential ‘death row’ due to the bad condition of some unoccupied buildings.
City Hall councillor John Gilligan said: “A huge part of a shop front fell down. If there had been anybody waiting there they would have been killed. This is normally a very busy street at around 9 o’clock when schools are open, as hundreds of children pass along the street to a local national school.
“If it happened when the schools were open we would have had a major tragedy on our hands. I have been calling for action to be taken on this particular building for years due to its dangerous condition.
Mr Gilligan said investors had acquired old premises in the good Celtic Tiger years.
“Now they have walked away and left these buildings in a deteriorating condition. The city council must now move on the owners of these building and compel them to make them safe.”
The section of shop facia which fell yesterday measured about 20ft x 4ft.
