Court move clears way for prison construction

WORK on the controversial new prison at Thornton Hall in north Co Dublin can proceed after a High Court challenge to the development was withdrawn yesterday.

Richard Merne, an engineer and member of a local group opposing the prison, had been seeking an injunction preventing its construction.

The full hearing of theaction was due to open yesterday before Mr Justice Thomas Smyth but, after talks between the sides,senior counsel Ian Finlay,for Mr Merne, told the judge the matter had been resolved.