Judge allows Ardee plant challenge

A Co Louth woman has secured leave from the High Court to bring proceedings challenging planning permission for a pharmaceutical…

A Co Louth woman has secured leave from the High Court to bring proceedings challenging planning permission for a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant at Ardee.

Mr Justice Smith yesterday granted leave to Ms Brigid Hickey, of Bohernamoe, Ardee, to take judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanála over its granting of permission on November 19th, 2002, to Galen Chemical (Dublin) Ltd for the pharmaceutical development at Ardee. He directed that the action would be heard on May 6th.

Ms Hickey is seeking an order quashing the granting of permission and a declaration that the development of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility is subject to the licensing requirements of the Environmental Protection Agency Act 1992. She claims An Bord Pleanála erred in law in its consideration of the planning application and that the public notice accompanying the planning application did not comply with the requirements of the Planning Acts.

It is also alleged that it failed to adopt fair procedures in its consideration of an appeal against the granting of permission .

Mary Carolan

Mary Carolan

Mary Carolan is the Legal Affairs Correspondent of the Irish Times