Crime & Law

Minister ‘regrets’ delayed public access to 14-17 Moore Street

Streets’ buildings declared national monument after court case due to role in 1916 Rising

Members of the Save 16 Moore Street campaign Proinsias Ó Rathaille, Eamonn Ceant, Helen Litton, Paddy Cooney and James Connolly Heron at 16 Moore Street following the announcement that the High Court ruled the area should be declared a national monument. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Elaine Edwards
Fri Mar 18 2016 - 20:18

The Moore Street court case has delayed public access to the house which was the final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising, according to the Department of Heritage.

The government bought the house at 16 Moore Street, along with neighbouring properties at 14, 15 and 17 Moore Street, for €4 million.

Conservation work on the buildings had been due for completion this year. A spokesman for the department said some “preparatory” work had been carried out in recent months and the buildings would have been secured for public access during the centenary period, even though the the proposed commemorative centre would not have been completed.

But no work had been carried out on the site in recent months because of the High Court proceedings and work could not continue until the court's judgment had been reviewed.

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Last December, the Minister for Heritage Heather Humphreys said the historical significance of number 16, as the final headquarters of the 1916 Rising and the location of the last council of war, had been the determining factor in placing a preservation order on it in 2007.

Numbers 14, 15 and 17 were included in the purchase to enhance and preserve the amenity and setting of number 16.

Ms Humphreys said on Friday she and her officials would carefully study the High Court judgment handed down in relation to the Moore Street “battlefield site”.

“This was a complex case and the judgment, which runs to more than 400 pages, needs to be studied in detail,” she said.

“My priority up to this point has been to progress the important works to preserve the national monument at Nos 14-17, which was the final headquarters of the 1916 leaders. My officials and I will consider this judgment in detail before making any decisions on further actions.”

She said she regretted “the public will not now be in a position to access 14-17 Moore Street during the centenary period as had been planned.”

Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams said the High Court judgment was "a victory for the people of Ireland".

He said it was “a national disgrace” that successive governments “refused to use the legislative powers at their disposal to designate as a national monument the GPO/Moore Street area”.

Fianna Fáil TD and spokesman on Dublin, Darragh O’Brien, said the previous government had “tried to ignore the historic significance of Moore Street and they arrogantly pushed their own plans for the site despite great opposition”.

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