The High Court has ordered the closure of a Co Offaly building site because of a risk of serious personal injury to workmen.
Mr Justice McKechnie heard that the development of 32 houses at Westwood Park, Erry, Clashaun, Clara, Co Offaly, was considered unsafe by the National Authority for Occupational Safety and Health. Mr Fergal Foley, counsel for the authority, told the court that an inspector had found serious deficiencies in scaffolding and high-voltage cables running through the site.
He said the developer, Mr Michael Egan, of Clara, had told an authority inspector, Mr Padraig Delaney, he would fight the authority "every step of the way".
Mr Justice McKechnie ordered the immediate closure of the development and adjourned the matter until tomorrow.