Major setback for Shell’s Corrib gas pipeline as court quashes licence

The Shell Corrib gas pipeline project has suffered a major setback after the Commercial Court granted an order quashing the revised licence issued for the Shell gas terminal at Ballinaboy.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had issued the revised licence last June, but the agency conceded in court yesterday that Martin Harrington was entitled to the quashing order due to defects in relation to how the EPA carried out an environmental impact assessment (EIA) concerning the terminal development.

Mr Justice Peter Kelly granted the order to Mr Harrington, of Doohoma, Ballina, Co Mayo, after the EPA said it was not opposing his legal challenge to the revised integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) licence issued by the agency to Shell E&P Ireland. The EPA will also pay Mr Harrington’s legal costs.