Planning permission to demolish Grasmere, the Foxrock house which featured prominently in a 1997 court case involving the Irish Permanent Building Society and its former chief executive, Dr Edmund Farrell, is being challenged by local residents.
Dr Farrell sold the house on Westminster Road in 1999 for in excess of £1.8 million (€2.2 million) to Pirolimian, whose directors are former hotelier David Doyle, his wife, Cristina Doyle, and Bernard McAvoy.
Planning permission granted to Pirolimian by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to build 10 three-storey houses on the site is being appealed by Foxrock Area Development and six other parties.
It is believed that David Doyle initially intended to build a house for himself on the site but later bought Clancool, a large detached house on Shrewsbury Road for a reputed €9 million. In 2000 he got planning permission for a two-storey 1,394 sq m (15,000 sq ft) house at Grasmere and a year later his company got outline permission for retention of the house and construction of two two-storey houses.
Foxrock Area Development, which represents local traders and residents, say the house is mentioned in conservationist Peter Pearson's book Between the Mountains and the Sea as an important dwelling typical of the period and the area.
The mid-19th century house has been extensively renovated in recent years. Locals say it holds a "commanding position" at the junction of Gordon Avenue, half way along Westminster Road and its demolition would have a "devastating effect".
It also says development would be "premature" pending the adoption of the new development plan and the designation of Foxrock as an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).
