Bid To Overturn Mallusk Incinerator Rejected

The Court of Appeal has rejected a bid by the Department of Infrastructure (DfI) over its decision to approve planning permission for a waste incinerator in Mallusk.

The decision, in relation to the planned facility at Hightown had been made by the permanent secretary of the DfI, following the collapse of Stormont.

Previously, a High Court judge ruled that senior civil servants did not have the power to grant planning for the incinerator.

The DfI appealed against the verdict, however it has been denied.

Sinn Féin Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín welcomed the decision.

He said: "The Court was very clear that it would be contrary to the Good Friday Agreement for such a significant and controversial decision such as the incinerator to be taken by departmental officials in the absence of an Executive.

"The North South Interconnector is important to the development of the island but it must be undergrounded.

"Currently Fine Gael and the Independents seek to construct 409 pylons – some of them up to 51m high – carrying 400,000V through Meath, Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh and Tyrone.

"Some will be constructed at a minimum distance of 13m from people's houses. With regards, tourism, heritage, agriculture and communities the current plan with radically damage these counties.

"There is also serious health concerns and home and property values would be damaged. It is both technically and financially feasible to underground this interconnector and that’s what the government must do.   

"Serious questions must now be asked of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment who has already started procurement process for the building of the Interconnector before the full planning process is fully complete."

(CD)