Nuns challenge explosives firm on convent purchase

The company seeking to develop a €6 million explosives factory on the shores of the Shannon estuary in Co Clare has been accused of secretly buying a nuns' convent near the proposed facility.

The accusation comes from the nuns themselves, who last year sold their Cahercon convent and 260 acres of land to a company through a US-based lawyer.

However, the Salesian Sisters say they only became aware of Shannon Explosives Ltd buying their lands in news reports of the Bord Pleanála oral hearing into the explosives plant last October.

At the hearing a representative for the company confirmed the purchase - it is understood the property was bought for €1.2 million and will ease planning concerns related to the proposal. The order has been one of the main objectors to the proposal and has initiated High Court proceedings over the plan. A decision on the plan is expected later this week by An Bord Pleanála.

In a letter to Shannon Explosives' solicitors, the nuns' solicitor states that assurance was specifically given that there was no connection between the purchaser and Shannon Explosives Ltd.

The letter adds that as far the nuns are concerned, "the company which ultimately acquired the property had no connection with Shannon Explosives Ltd".

The nuns claim the reported land sale to Shannon Explosives implies that their objection to the explosives factory "was essentially bogus, in that they were secretly dealing with Shannon Explosives to effect the sale, while pretending to support their long-standing neighbours by going to court".

The nuns claim that if Shannon Explosives Ltd have purchased the property, "then that they did so secretly and by carefully disguising this fact" from them.

The nuns say they will bring the matter to the attention of the High Court if Shannon Explosives does not admit what the nuns say is true.

However, the managing director of Shannon Explosives Ltd, Mr Paddy Whelan, said yesterday that he is the full and rightful owner of the convent and surrounding 260 acres.

"I am quite clear how I bought the lands and who I bought them from."

He said he had "no contact" with the Salesian Sisters in relation to the purchase of the lands.