Cork Hotel Project Faces Uncertainty Despite Approval
A proposed 34-story hotel on Cork’s Custom House Quay remains in limbo more than four years after receiving the green light, raising questions about its future.
Developer Remains Committed
Despite the lack of visible progress, Tower Development Properties Ltd. insists it is still dedicated to constructing the hotel on Cork cityโs Custom House Quay. Cork City Council has communicated with the developers, confirming that โthe owner remains focused on developing the site in line with the granted planning permission,โ
which is valid until March of next year.
The council โfully supports the development of this important heritage and gateway site,โ
a spokesperson stated, adding that the council will โcontinue to keep this site under regular review.โ
Project History
Tower Development Properties Ltd. initially applied for the development in July 2019. Cork City Council granted permission in October 2020. An Bord Pleanรกla, now An Coimisiรบn Pleanรกla, upheld the council’s decision in March 2021 following an appeal.
Directors’ Other Projects and Legal Issues
The directors of Tower Development Properties Ltd. are **Kevin OโSullivan**, 61, and **Marian OโSullivan**, 69, both natives of Ballinskelligs. **Kevin OโSullivan** also serves as a director of Clontarf St Developments. That company’s proposal to construct the Prism, a 15-story glass office building near the cityโs main bus terminus at Parnell Place, never materialized, even after piling work commenced three years ago.
Planning permission for the Prism project expired last August. A council planner advised against granting an extension, citing the lack of substantial progress. Nationally, the average project experiences cost overruns of 20% due to planning delays and material price increases (RICS 2023).
Family Legal Troubles
While these ambitious projects faced planning hurdles, siblings of **Kevin** and **Marian OโSullivan** were embroiled in legal issues in the United States. **Dรณnal OโSullivan**, 65, and **Helen OโSullivan**, 64, along with **Pรกdraig Naughton**, 54, were convicted in the US for their involvement in a payroll scheme that defrauded labor unions of $1 million in benefits over six years.
All three recently lost their appeal to overturn their convictions. The court determined they defrauded unions by using a third-party firm, Allied, to pay around 100 Navillus employees without making required contributions to benefits funds. **Pรกdraig Naughton** also failed to disclose the separate payroll system to union auditors.
**Dรณnal OโSullivan**, founder and former CEO/President of Navillus Contracting, and **Helen OโSullivan**, who managed the company payroll, were indicted in 2020 and convicted in 2021, along with financial controller **Pรกdraig Naughton**.
**Dรณnal OโSullivan** and **Pรกdraig Naughton** received six-month prison sentences in June 2023, while **Helen OโSullivan** was sentenced to two years of probation. **Dรณnal OโSullivan** was also ordered to pay $1.276 million (โฌ1.28 million) in restitution to the unions’ benefits funds.
The New York City-headquartered US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit upheld their convictions, rejecting arguments of insufficient evidence and lack of intent.
