Minerals expert defends valuation of Glen Ding sand and gravel reserves

A BRITISH minerals expert yesterday defended his valuation of a State-owned sand and gravel property in Co Wicklow, sold privately to the Roadstone company in 1990 for £1.25 million (€1.58m).

Roadstone extracted 5m tonnes of the 8.43m tonnes of minerals from the Glen Ding lands — although the company received planning permission for only 10% of the total 145-acre site, the Moriarty Tribunal was told.

John Barnett, a chartered minerals consultant, described how he and chartered civil engineer Kiaran O’Malley were hired by the Department of Energy to prepare a report on the property before its sale.