Mahon centre stage but hardly in manner he would have wished

ALAN P MAHON, the lawyer who was appointed to succeed Mr Justice Flood as chairman of the Planning Tribunal, has finally taken the media centre stage, but probably not in the manner he would have liked.

Prior to yesterday, Mr Mahon, aged 52, had a profile which was considerably less than that of his retired predecessor. That is now changed.

Despite making the news for matters other than his helmsmanship of the tribunal, Mr Mahon may yet see the job through over the next 15 years.