A proposed wind farm development in North Tipperary which had been challenged in the High Court by local residents and environmentalists, has been given the go-ahead by a judge.

A farmer who faces the risk of losing his 100-acre dairy holding said yesterday it was like a sword over his head, after a High Court judge put off a decision on who will pay the costs of a six-day court challenge to a €70m Tipperary windfarm.

A farmer faces the possibility this week of losing his 100-acre dairy holding after challenging the grant of planning for the construction, against his wishes, of a road across his land by a wind power company.

Lakeland Dairies has sold its 16 agri-trading outlets under the co-op's restructuring programme announced earlier this year.

SEVEN people were killed in five car accidents during the bloodiest weekend on the roads since the introduction of penalty points.