‘Masterplan’ being drawn up to develop site of gutted building

A “masterplan” is to be prepared to develop a former psychiatric hospital campus in Cork City after a disused unit was gutted in a suspected arson attack.

Garda inquiries into the fire at St Kevin’s unit, on the grounds of the former Our Lady’s Mental Hospital site in Shanakiel, are continuing and structural reports on the gutted building are awaited.

However, Lord Mayor Tony Fitzgerald said that, a week on from the devastating fire, it is vital the city moves quickly to address the future of the site which he described as an “emergency planning and environmental health issue”.