Noonan plays key role in council’s €12m property deal

FINANCE Minister Michael Noonan yesterday played a key role in giving Limerick City Council the green light to proceed with a huge property deal in Limerick city centre involving a three acre-plus site that was falling into dereliction.

The Opera Centre site in Patrick Street was valued at over €100 million at the height of the property boom when it was acquired by a Northern Ireland businessman for development as a huge shopping mall.

The city council yesterday closed a deal to buy the site for €12m from Nama.