Cullen criticised in report on Trim Castle hotel plans

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen has been criticised in a report on the planned development of a hotel beside Trim Castle in Co Meath.

The report by the Centre for Public Inquiry accuses Mr Cullen of intervening to block objections to the development while he was Minister for the Environment.

The objections were apparently being prepared by officials in the minister's department after planning permission was granted for the hotel.

Today's report says Mr Cullen was aware that Dúchas, the heritage section of his own department, had consistently expressed concern about the development.

Elsewhere, the report says a number of current and former members of Trim Town Council felt they were advised "against their better judgment" to agree to sell the land where the hotel was due to be built.

It also says the developer was informed that his proposal had been approved weeks before the elected council was told.

The European Commission is currently investigating whether EU directives on the environment were breached by Trim Town Council in relation to the controversy.