Costly delays on cards after road ruling

FRANTIC efforts were being made last night to stop a haemorrhage of taxpayers’ money after the completion of the country’s biggest road project was stonewalled by the Supreme Court.

A temporary injunction has prevented removal of an ancient walled ditch, or fosse, part of the boundary of medieval Carrickmines Castle in south Co Dublin, which lies in the path of the last section of the M50 motorway.

The order means no further work can be done on the castle site until the High Court hears the case in full at a date in the future despite protests by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council that delays are costing €100,000 a week under a penalty clause agreed with the main contractors.