John Tinnelly & Sons takes Sierra Leone safari

The tropical vegetation in the background gives it away - Newry, Northern Ireland based Tinnelly Demolition is currently engaged in a 10 week contract to demolish the former Cape Sierra Hotel in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with work scheduled for completion before Christmas this year..

Tinnelly was engaged as a subcontractor by Belfast based main contractor Lagan Construction to demolish the fairly substantial concrete frame structure, which has a mix of concrete and block infill. To carry out the work, two Liebherr 934 excavators, along with associated pulverisers, breakers and shears, were shipped from Northern Ireland to Freetown. In addition, a roll on/roll off skip lorry was also dispatched on the three week journey to the West African country (with a stop in Antwerp, Belgium, along the way).

The equipment, which was joined by three John Tinnelly and Sons operatives who flew out in early October, was hired to demolish and site-clear the former hotel down below its foundations. This will allow construction to begin on a new Hilton Hotel in the stunning surroundings of this plush holiday destination as part of Lagan Construction's ongoing operations in the area.