Residents in Rathgar have accused a developer of underhanded tactics after it cut down mature trees while they were sleeping.
Locals living on Highfield Road had intervened on a number of occasions over the June bank holiday weekend when tree surgeons arrived to cut down trees in front of a new-build property.
The workers returned early on Tuesday the 2nd of June and chopped down at least four mature trees. Gardaí were called by locals when they realised what had happened.
Seabrun Developers did not have planning permission to cut down the trees.
Local Cllr. Deirdre Conroy says the developers claimed a wall on the property was in danger of collapsing.
"By that stage I had already sent my survey into Dublin City Council with photographs of the wall. Because I am an architectural historian I was able to prove that the wall isn't in danger, it's not damaged. That's why they were saying they were cutting down the trees."
Dublin City Council has ordered all works to stop until a plan to replace the trees is submitted.
