THE Legion of Mary has been accused by Senator David Norris of causing needless damage to a listed 18th century house on North Great George's Street, Dublin.
Decorative plasterwork in Magnificat House, which has" been in the legion's hands for many years, has been damaged in an apparent attempt to strengthen floors.
The two best fireplaces haven also been stolen. These neoclassical fireplaces, important enough to have been photographed by the Irish Architectural Archive, had their decorative features stripped off by thieves who gained access by climbing builders' scaffolding.
Senator Norris, who has lived in North Great George's Street for almost 15 years, said the Legion of Mary had started work without first seeking planning permission. A planning notice had been posted only after the damage was done.
"What they have done to this house (No 49) is absolutely disgraceful. And what makes it all the more galling is that it was the Legion of Mary's neglect which led to the loss of five other houses at the lower end of the street nearly 10 years ago."
Mr Nabil Saidi, who is restoring the adjoining house, said he found it "incredible" that floors would need to be "strengthened to cater for small meetings when he had hosted major gatherings in recent weeks on his original timber floors.
Mr Ian Lumley, project manager of the Dublin Civic Trust, said floors could easily be strengthened by putting in lightweight steel straps or adding additional joists without removing the floor structure or affecting the plaster on the ceiling below.
Ms Helen Murphy, the legion's president, told The Irish Times that its building consultants had advised that the floors were "dangerous" and needed to be renewed. All the damaged plasterwork would be replaced.
She admitted the work had started before planning permission was sought from Dublin Corporation, but said this wash "not an oversight on our part". She regretted that the fire places had been stolen, saying it was "the last thing we expected".
