Pylon campaigners to continue their battle through the courts

The North East Pylon Pressure Campaign was granted leave to apply for a judicial review of the recent approval for the North South Interconnector, in the Hgh Court this morning.

The Court granted leave on all of the grounds submitted, together with a stay on the implementation of the planning conditions.

The grounds upon which leave were granted included that the project, being a ‘Project of Common Interest’ (PCI) under the EU and promoted by the UK, has to be reassessed in light of the decision of the UK to leave the EU.

In addition there were range of other grounds relating to EU law and Irish domestic law, to include infringement of constitutional rights such as property rights, inviolability of the dwelling house and the right to bodily integrity.

Mr Justice Noonan, in granting leave, made the matter returnable to 25th April next.

The grounds related to the PCI status of the project are particularly relevant to the Northern Ireland Planning Inquiry on the North-South Interconnector that will commence this Wednesday in Armagh.

NEPPC will be supported at the inquiry by the campaign group ‘Safe Electricity for Armagh and Tyrone’ (SEAT) , who have been advocating for many years that the interconnector should be undergrounded.