Courts / Westmeath / Report
Councillors welcome adjournment in conceded challenge to plan to house 1,000 asylum seekers in tents
Summary
Cllr Paul Hogan, Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, and Cllr John Dolan welcomed a High Court adjournment in their challenge to a plan to house approximately 1,000 male asylum seekers in tented accommodation in Athlone. The applicants alleged that the ministerial process was unlawful, irrational, and breached fair procedures, claiming deficiencies in environmental screening, wastewater assessment, and traffic impact analysis. At the hearing, counsel for Cllr Hogan stated that the State had conceded the case, resulting in the development being classified as unauthorised. However, the applicants maintained that substantive environmental and planning issues remained unaddressed. Mr Justice Richard Humphreys adjourned the matter to January 27 to allow for further detailed consideration of these wider grounds. The State confirmed that works on the Lissywollen site would cease on December 20, though the site would remain in operation pending a final court determination. The councillors, including Mayor Frankie Keena, stated that the adjournment provides an opportunity to have their broader concerns heard in full by the High Court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Councillors welcome adjournment in conceded challenge to plan to house 1,000 asylum seekers in tents. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- January 27 Adjournment
- December 20 Adjournment
- 2024-12-19 Publication
Why: "Accordingly the court has adjourned the matter until January 27 in order to tease this out in more detail. CNI source report
Case subjects
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Outcome: Today, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys adjourned the matter to January 27.
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