'This is a sad day for Ballycastle' - Call ‘for punitive action to be taken if demolition permission was not granted’.
Calls have been made for 'a thorough investigation’ into the total demolishment of the Antrim Arms in Ballycastle.
The call has been made by The Royal Society of Ulster Architects (RSUA) who also called ‘for punitive action to be taken if permission was not granted’.
Ciarán Fox, RSUA’s Director said, “This is a sad day for Ballycastle. Following the fire we had expected partial demolition but this complete flattening of the building has come as a shock.
"We are currently trying to establish whether or not this was permitted by the authorities.
"If not, it is essential that there is a severe penalty for the owner.”
He added that this “continues the awful pattern of our local heritage being lost” when an owner “allows an important building to fall into dereliction, they want it demolished, permission is refused, then someone starts a fire and before long it gets demolished”.
He added: “It is our understanding that the owner bought this building knowing it was listed and therefore accepted the added responsibility to the public of protecting the building for future generations.
"They have failed in that duty.
"Government needs to send a clear message that owners who don’t look after their listed buildings will not be able to profit from their careless demise.”