TIPPERARY North Riding County Council said last night it had no record of Mr Michael Lowry applying for planning permission to extend his home at Holy Cross, Co Tipperary.
Under the current planning regulations, domestic extensions of under 23 square metres usually do not require planning permission from the local authority. Conversions or upgrading of existing structures may also be exempt under certain circumstances.
Staff at the council's planning department said they could not say whether Mr Lowry's extension, which along with a renovation of his home reportedly cost over £200,000, was small enough to exempt him from seeking permission.
According to council planners, there is no record of any application for permission to extend the house in the name of Michael Lowry. Nor was an application - made in the name of Mr Lowry's wife, Catherine McGrath, or in the name of Mr Lowry's company, Streamline.