Motorway building continues pending Carrickmines hearing

The High Court could halt work tomorrow on the controversial section of Dublin’s M50 motorway pending an injunction hearing.

Justice Michael Peart today ordered lawyers for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to produce detailed affidavits explaining what work it is carrying out on the ruins of Carrickmines Castle.

He said he will then make a decision on whether or not to halt construction work on the South Eastern Motorway until a full interlocutory hearing is heard late next week.

Area counsel for Dublin conservationist Dominic Dunne applied for all work to “freeze” until the hearing went ahead on Thursday and Friday.

Colman Fitzgerald, SC, said that diggers and trucks could have demolished, removed or buried parts of the castle ruins by next week.

But counsel for the local authority, Conleth Bradley, SC, disagreed and said that there should be an assumption of constitutionality attached to the legislation allowing the work.

Justice Peart said he didn’t want “a race between the diggers and the court”.

Mr Dunne, of Benburb Street, is seeking an injunction to stop work on the South Dublin site because it is unconstitutional and contrary to EU laws.