The managing director of one of the State's largest quarrying operations has claimed that his companies are being unfairly targeted by Clare County Council. Gordon Deegan reports.
Mr Paddy Whelan was speaking after a circuit court judge yesterday affirmed a conviction taken by the council against one of Mr Whelan's companies, CW Shipping, for breaching the planning laws by infilling a special area of conservation without planning permission. Judge John O'Hagan gave the company 12 months to restore the site at Cahercon pier, Kildysart.
Companies controlled by Mr Whelan have been subject to a number of planning enforcement investigations by the council in the past year.
Mr Whelan claimed the council's enforcement unit had taken a special interest in his companies' dealings which he did not understand. He was happy his companies were fully compliant with the planning laws.
The council's head of planning, Mr Ger Dollard, said it targeted serious planning breaches regardless of the individual or company involved.