Court: stop work on Carrickmines site

Work on a crucial section of Dublin’s M-50 motorway, designed to beat the capital’s chronic traffic congestion, again faced delays today after a ruling by the Supreme Court.

Judges at the court granted an order restraining the road builders from moving a ditch at a castle site that is on the route of the new south-eastern motorway.

The ruling effectively forced the local authority involved in the project to halt work on the part of the route under contention – the ruins of the medieval Carrickmines Castle, Co Dublin – pending fresh proceedings at High Court level.

The judges’ decision followed an appeal by environmental protesters Dominic Dunne and Gordon Lucas against the High Court’s refusal two weeks ago to grant an interlocutory order restraining interference with the ditch.

The Supreme Court ruling overturns that refusal.

The court also ruled that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Minister for the Environment Martin Cullen should present evidence to the court to prove that the castle was not a national monument before any work could restart.

Mr Dunne and Mr Lucas claimed in court that the council was committing “a criminal offence” in continuing certain works at the castle without having statutory consent under the National Monuments Acts for such works.

Both men afterwards said they were “absolutely delighted” at the court decision.

A Council spokesman said the 27-page ruling would have to be studied.