A bid to overturn An Bord Pleanála’s planning permission to EirGrid for the construction of a 138km-long, north-south interconnector were thrown out in the High Court yesterday by Mr Justice Max Barrett.

Government Chief Whip Regina Doherty has put her position in jeopardy by saying she will back anti-pylon protesters in any “civil disobedience” measures taken to prevent the new north-south electricity inter-connector.