Liquidation kills off €10m explosives plant

THE High Court liquidation of five Whelan group companies has ended the quarry group’s 11-year long battle to construct a contentious €10 million explosives plant on the Shannon estuary.

Planning permission was granted last year for the project at Cahercon, Kildysart, Co Clare, by An Bord Pleanála in spite of strong opposition over a 10-year period from An Taisce, Friends of the Irish Environment and local groups.

However, the Whelan Group company that secured the permission, Shannon Explosives Ltd, was one of five companies that was liquidated on Friday after the Whelan Group withdrew its petition for court protection.