The Shelbourne Hotel has taken down it's famous bronze statues.
The Irish Georgian Society says it was never consulted about the removal of the four sculptures.
They depict two princesses and their slave girls holding torches and have stood outside the St Stephen's Green Hotel for more than 150 years.
They were commissioned by the hotel in 1867.
Further to reports and in the interests of clarity, the IGS was not consulted about the removal of statues from The Shelbourne Hotel. Such works require planning permission which we believe was not sought. The IGS has contacted DCC Planning urging them to address the matter. pic.twitter.com/2cftDLbffr
— Irish Georgian Society (@IrishGeorgian) July 28, 2020
Management say they were taken down because of their association with slavery.
The society says planning permission is needed and it's contacted the city council about their removal.
Journalist and author Frank McDonald has described the decision as "bizarre";
"So what if they depict two Nubian princesses and two slave girls from ancient Egypt because that was 4,000 years ago. So they had nothing to do with modern slavery and the demand for the removal of statues associated with the 18th century slave trade."
Dublin City Council says it is not aware of permission being granted to remove the statues and that the matter is under investigation by the Planning Enforcement Section.
