Campaigners win court battle over Ringaskiddy incinerator

Protest: Demonstrators against the Indaver incinerator in Ringaskiddy. Photo: Provision

Tim Healy

March 19 2021 05:34 PM

A local environmental group has won its legal challenge over the granting of planning permission for a €160million incinerator at Ringaskiddy in Cork Harbour.

High Court judge David Barniville ruled on Friday that Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment was entitled to succeed on two of its 11 grounds of challenge to a planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála (ABP) in May 2018.

He will make final orders in the case later after the sides have considered the 241 page judgment.

The Board granted permission to Indaver Ireland Ltd for the development by a five to two majority after an inspector with ABP had recommended refusal.

In his judgment, the judge found the Board’s decision was affected by objective bias by reason of prior involvement of one of its members, Conall Boland, the then deputy chairperson of the board, in work which he did in 2004 when employed by a firm of consultants – RPS MCOS Consulting Engineers - which was engaged by Indaver to make submissions to Cork County Council and Cork City Council on reviews to those council’s waste management plans.

The judge was satisfied the work done by Mr Boland had a “clear, rational and cogent” connection with Indaver’s application to the board for permission for the development of the waste to energy facility at Ringaskiddy.

He also found in favour of the group in relation to certain arguments made concerning the interpretation of Strategic Infrastructure Development provisions of the 2000 Planning Act.

The judge will make final orders in the case later after the sides have considered the judgment.

David Holland SC, for the applicants, said arising from the judgment,his side would be seeking the permission should be quashed.

The judge said he would “need a lot of persuasion” to reach a conclusion he should quash the permission without returning the matter for reconsideration by the board but said he hoped to have final orders determined quickly after hearing submissions.

He has adjourned the matter for mention to April 13.