JP McManus’ brother Gerry to make alterations to landmark city home

A BROTHER of JP McManus is due to apply for planning permission to make alterations to a multi-million residence on Limerick’s North Circular Road.

The Limerick Leader reported in November last that the property was acquired from London based developer Aidan Brooks for an undisclosed sum by a member of the McManus family.

A planning notice published recently states that Gerry McManus intends to apply for planning permission for seven works on the site, which was famously bought by Aidan Brooks for €26m in 2007 amid intense bidding.

The notice states that he wishes to remove late 20th century house extensions and outbuildings, make modifications to the existing house, construct a gate lodge near the entrance, construct courtyard buildings, construct an underground garage, and make repairs and alterations to the site boundaries.

The house - which is on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage - was the former residence of the Bishop of Limerick. The eight-bedroom, three-storey property, is situated on six acres of land.

However, it is understood that last year’s sale included just around one acre, while Brooks, who also owns Portland House, the former Church of Ireland’s bishop residence next door, is to retain the remaining five acres.

It is understood that the property changed hands for significantly less than its eight-figure sum seven years ago.

The house has been listed as selling for €1.1m, according to the property price register, but that figure does not include the sale of land around the property. Brooks had previously applied for planning permission to build a nursing home and retirement village on the site.