THE status of U2's fast-selling Dublin concert was shrouded in confusion last night as the issue of planning permission for the Lansdowne Road event remained undecided by the courts.
Although 40,000 tickets for the PopMart concert on August 30th were snapped up by fans within two hours of going on sale last Saturday, the courts have yet to finalise the planning status of Lansdowne Road as a concert venue.
The matter comes before the Supreme Court on Friday and the concert organisers are hoping that the issue will be clarified.
The Irish Rugby Football Union, owner of Lansdowne Road, said in a statement last night it was confident its application to the Supreme Court would be successful and the concert would go ahead as agreed between it and Dublin Corporation.
The concert promoter, Mr Oliver Barry, said he was also confident the concert would be given the go-ahead. He refused to speculate on what would happen if the Supreme Court ruled against the IRFU other than saying he would consult his legal team.
Dublin Corporation indicated in the High Court on Monday that it was prepared to let the concert go ahead pending a court determination of the position at a later date on concerts at the venue.
However, the High Court has now refused reliefs sought by the IRFU - relating to the use of the land at Lansdowne Road for a pop concert and a warning by Dublin Corporation against unauthorised, developments - and an appeal against that decision will be heard in the Supreme Court on Friday.