Paul Leech challenges Meath school restoration over bats

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Paul Leech brought a High Court challenge to Meath County Council’s restoration plans, alleging inadequate bat surveys, reported on 20 October 2022.

The challenge concerns the former St Patrick’s Classical School in Navan, which the council planned to restore.

Leech argued that a February 2022 bat survey recommended a further survey during the May-to-August roosting season, but no follow-up report was carried out.

He sought to quash the council’s development consent and declarations concerning its assessment under the EU Habitats Directive; Justice Charles Meenan adjourned the case to December.