Peter Sweetman wins High Court order protecting pearl mussels

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

Peter Sweetman won a High Court order striking down regulations that removed protections for freshwater pearl mussels, reported on 2 April 2020. The proceedings concerned mussels in the Munster Blackwater Special Area of Conservation, which extends through counties Waterford and Cork. The court order was made on consent after the parties agreed that the regulations breached the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive. The State respondents must also pay Mr Sweetman’s legal costs. Mr Justice Charles Meenan granted the orders.