Minister's new timber frame home faces demolition

A €600,000 timber frame holiday home being constructed for Ireland's justice minister may have to be demolished because it has no planning permission.

The nearly-finished home, manufactured by Griffner Coillte, is a three-storey luxury building at Rooskey on the banks of the Shannon.

Planning permission had previously been given for a home on the site, but this ran out on the day timber panels were delivered for minister Michael McDowell's build project.

An application by Mr McDowell's wife for an extension of planning permission was turned down by Roscommon County Council because the home under construction was significantly different to the design originally approved.

As an "unathorised" development, the council can now order the home to be taken down, which would be a major embarassment for Mr McDowell at a time when the government is cracking down on rogue developments.