Toyota-driving developer who often bypassed architects

LIAM CARROLL’s career as a property developer has spanned 20 years, beginning with an apartment block and townhouse scheme near Dublin’s East Link bridge.

Since then, he has grown to build more apartments in Dublin’s centre than any other developer, shaping much of the capital’s streetscape in the process.

Such developments, often vast blocks of 300 units, were simply planned – apartments were small and laid out along narrow corridors. Space was used to its maximum and architects were often bypassed, giving Carroll a name for efficiently managing his costs.

Carroll is known for shying away from publicity but he has been forced into the limelight on a number of occasions, notably when three workers died on his sites in the late 1990s.

A High Court hearing at the time found Mr Justice Peter Kelly, who also presided over yesterday’s Commercial Court hearing, telling Mr Carroll he was a “disgrace to the construction industry”.

The developer afterwards committed himself to improving safety standards.

Meanwhile, his wealth grew, with the billionaire label frequently applied despite the developer’s own desire to keep a low profile. He lives in the prosperous but unremarkable Dublin suburb of Mount Merrion and much has been made of his fondness for an ageing Toyota car.

Other forays into the public arena have mostly involved the stock market. In 2002, Mr Carroll wrested control of development firm Dunloe Ewart from solicitor Noel Smyth.

Perhaps emboldened, further raids on Aer Lingus, Irish Continental Group and Greencore followed although these have proved less successful as the markets have floundered.

More recent property developments have also faced difficulties, symbolised by his flagship Gasworks site in Dublin’s Ringsend lying empty while the banks circle and entry to Nama beckons for the former apartment king.