Landowner agrees to let ESB access

A landowner who the ESB and Eirgrid claimed had obstructed upgrade work on the Co Donegal electricity network system has agreed to let works be carried out on his land.

The ESB and Eirgrid plc sought High Court injunctions preventing Patrick Gallagher, from interfering with or obstructing the work as well as orders requiring him to remove or remedy any obstructions which have been placed on the land.

Yesterday, Mr Gallagher, of Galdonagh, Manorcunningham, undertook before Mr Justice Paul Gilligan to allow the ESB onto his lands and that he would not interfere with the work.

Rossa Fanning, counsel for ESB/Eirgrid, told the court important upgrade work needed to be carried out on Mr Gallagher’s land at Listack in respect of a 110KW power line that effects the general supply in the entire of Donegal.

Counsel said the ESB has a statutory right to immediate entry to land on which its powerlines are located. While a landowner can object, he is only entitled to apply for compensation.

Counsel said the owners of more than 200 properties where the ESB required to carry out works on this project all agreed to allow the ESB onto their lands. Mr Gallagher, despite his client’s efforts, was the only landowner to object.

Mr Gallagher, who was not represented by a lawyer, had been in dispute with the ESB over compensation he said he was entitled to from the ESB from work done on the lands in the 1990s.

The judge after receiving an undertaking from Mr Gallagher to allow the ESB onto his land, adjourned the matter to a date in June.