Lidl have announced that their Fortunestown store will officially reopen next month after it was destroyed during Storm Emma.

The West Dublin store was severely damaged after an incident with a digger during a blizzard in March which put the entire country on lockdown.

During the heavy snowfall on March 2, one individual stole a JCB and used it to damage the front of the store.

Dozens of others then invaded the building and looted items in the shop and the safe was even dragged out of the store by the JCB.

Following the destruction, LIDL issued a statement announcing plans to rebuild their Fortunestown store, with the 'new and improved' store set to open its doors next month.


The new store - which will officially open on August 30 - will incorporate features such as LED lighting, sensor controlled exterior sun blinds to reduce unwanted heat from the sun and high insulation external cladding.

Floor space in the store has increased from 997m2 to 1698m2 and customer car parking facilities have almost doubled and will include a number of electric vehicle charging points.

A Lidl spokesperson also revealed that "the store team that were redeployed to other stores in the area following the incident in March look forward to returning to the new store in August and welcoming back valued customers in the local community who have been extremely supportive over the last few months".

According to the Irish Times, plans were in place to expand the Fortunestown store before the attack in March after Lidl secured planning permission from South Dublin County Council to build a larger store, with the project originally due to commence in May.