Dublin Corporation has already spent £600,000 on a millennium project which involves the construction of a 400-ft monument in O'Connell Street, the High Court heard yesterday.
Ms Carol O'Farrell, for the corporation, said her clients were concerned that legal proceedings taken by an artist and retired school inspector, Mr Micheal O Nuallain, might delay the project. She asked Mr Justice Smyth to fix an early date for the hearing of Mr O Nuallain's application to prevent construction of the monument. It was extremely urgent.
Mr Justice Smyth ordered all documentation to be exchanged between the parties by May 4th and added that he would inquire if an early date could be fixed for the hearing.
Ms O'Farrell said any delay would put the project at risk and would mean it would not be completed before the millennium.
She said the corporation was also concerned that Mr O Nuallain had not given any undertaking as to damages in the proceedings. The corporation had already spent £600,000 on preliminary works and was concerned Mr O Nuallain had obtained from the court a recommendation that his costs be paid by the Attorney General.
Last Friday Mr O Nuallain (71), of Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co Dublin, and a brother of the late Brian O'Nolan (Myles na Gopaleen), secured leave to seek orders preventing the construction of the monument.