Courts / Longford / Report
Challenge against wind farm turbines "almost three times the height of Liberty Hall"
Summary
Two separate High Court challenges have been launched against An Bord Pleanala's decision to grant planning permission to Coole Windfarm Ltd for a 13-turbine wind farm near Coole, Co Westmeath. The first action, brought by the North Westmeath Turbine Action Group and its company entity, alleges the decision is inconsistent with EU directives on Habitats and Environmental Impact Assessments. Counsel Michael O'Donnell BL argued that the exact route of a 25km grid connection was not definitively provided, meaning no compliant EIA was conducted for that route. He further stated that no proper notice of the high-voltage connection route was published and landowner consent was not obtained. O'Donnell noted the turbines, with a tip height of 175m, are almost three times the height of Liberty Hall in Dublin. The second action, brought by environmental campaigner Peter Sweetman, claims the board failed to properly consider continuing peat extraction operations on part of the site for EIA purposes. Counsel James Devlin SC also raised concerns regarding the potential impact on the local bat population. Both applicants seek orders quashing the board's decision. Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted permission to bring these challenges on an ex-parte basis. The matter was adjourned, with both actions made returnable to a date in late July.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Challenge against wind farm turbines "almost three times the height of Liberty Hall". Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- 2019-05-27 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Applicant
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- No compensation for asthmatic garda ordered back on beat during Covid-19 surge
- Court refuses to reduce sentence for brothel keeper caught with child abuse material
- Cage fighter convicted of Shannon murder gets hearing date for miscarriage of justice application
- Strokestown assault conviction overturned by High Court
- Cage fighter seeks to have murder conviction declared a miscarriage of justice
- Men jailed over €415k cannabis grow houses in Galway
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request