NWR FM, the independent radio station in the north-west which is due to close next month, is launching a renewed legal attempt to stay in business.
It is to mount an appeal in the Supreme Court against an order refusing a judicial review of how the station lost its licence to operate. A spokesman for NWR said yesterday the directors decided at a meeting a few days ago to proceed with an appeal against the High Court order made in June.
The decision to proceed with an appeal coincides with moves by rival Ocean FM to step up a recruiting campaign for more than 50 full and part-time staff for its launch in the same area in October.
NWR, which broadcasts to Sligo, south Donegal and north Leitrim, was refused renewal of its licence by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland in April last year.
The decision was made on the casting vote of BCI chairman, Mr Conor Maguire SC. The licence was awarded to the company which owns Ocean FM.
A persistent NWR campaign to win back its licence received the backing of thousands of listeners who formed a lobby group called SOS - Save Our Station, but the campaign failed to overturn the original decision.
The NWR spokesman said: "The board was unanimous, after considering legal advice, that it must proceed with the appeal to the Supreme Court. The directors firmly believe that the station suffered an injustice in the decision-making process of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland."
NWR FM has been on air for 14 years. Recent listenership figures showed it had 73 per cent of the radio audience in its area. It was named local station of the year last October in a competition sponsored by the broadcasting commission.