Legal challenge to Slane Bypass to be heard over two days in January

Former attorney general, John Rogers, is taking a legal challenge against the planning permission for the Slane Bypass.

Mr Rogers of Crewbane, Slane, has sought a judicial review of the Slane Bypass planning permission. In the High Court yesterday (Monday), Mr Justice Richard Humphreys fixed a hearing date for 15th and 16th January 2026.

Meath County Council had asked for the case to be heard as soon as possible. The legal challenge comes following the granting of planning application for the bypass by An Coimisiún Pleanála last June.

Mr Rogers served as attorney general from 1984 to 1987 under Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and the Fine Gael-Labour coalition.

Mr Rogers says his lands will be affected by the proposed bypass and he has objected to the “trenching of a highway” through the Boyne valley, today's Irish Times reports.

In an affidavit, he said Crewbane Marsh floods a number of times a year and An Coimisiún Pleanála had not obtained expert hydrologist advice about the impact of proposed deep trenching for the proposed route .

Mr Rogers says when it approved Meath County Council’s application for permission last June, the commission did not have an adequate expert report concerning this significant road project adjacent to the Unesco Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site of Outstanding Natural Value, which includes the Neolithic passage tomb at Newgrange.

Mr Rogers says that for the original planning application in 2012, the board had commissioned a report by Dr Douglas R Comer, a former chief of the US national parks service responsible for all planning and development projects with that service, Mr Rogers said. A report by a person of the standing of Dr Comer was not before the commission in the second planning application, he said.

Unlike 2012, there was no oral hearing where opinions and statements of the experts could be examined concerning the second planning application, he said.

In a statement Meath County Council said; "While the challenge is against An Coimisiún Pleanála's decision, Meath County Council has been named as a notice party to the proceedings and will actively participate in the defence of the consent obtained.

"In this regard, the council sought an expedited hearing of the action and this was supported by the other parties."

"The council is hopeful that this long-awaited strategic road scheme will eventually get a green light early next year," the statement concludes.

Meath County Council Cathaoirleach, Clr Wayne Harding said that while he was "bitterly disappointed" that there has been a judicial review sought, he welcomed the date being set so quickly.

"The scheme was granted planning permission, having stood up to extraordinary scrutiny, and I have absolutely no doubt it will pass this further impediment and finally, lead to the dangerous N2 been taken out of Slane village and millions of euro been invested in Slanes public realm."

Michele Power of the Bypass Slane Campaign said the judicial review was hugely disappointing but not unexpected. "We have waited so ling but hopefully when it is heard in January, common sense will prevail ."

"The whole point of the Slane Bypass is to keep people safe."

The Slane Bypass project includes a 3.5km dual carriageway around Slane with a combined footway/cycleway, a 258-metre-long bridge over the River Boyne, and a number of public realm enhancements within Slane village. The scheme also includes improved traffic management measures and works on the N51 between the proposed bypass and the centre of the village.

On 27th June, An Coimisiún Pleanála approved the proposal, with seven conditions, covering environmental aspects, integrity of European Natura sites, archaeology and culture, ecology and wildlife, and clarity and visual amenity.

The planning application came after a quarter of a century of campaigning by local residents for a bypass that would take traffic away from the narrow bridge over the Boyne that has been a notorious accident blackspot for decades. The sharp descent to the bridge has been the scene of at least 23 fatal accidents. The Bypass Slane Campaign was formed in 2009 following a terrifying incident involving nine vehicles, including a lorry and a van.

Twelve years ago, An Bord Pleanála refused a previous planning application for a bypass of Slane, much to the dismay of the people of the village.