Wicklow County Council has acquired State lands in order to build a £30 million dual carriageway through the Glen of the Downs, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan adjourned for two weeks the hearing of legal disputes between the council and environmentalists opposing the construction of the dual carriageway. The council agreed to continue its undertaking not to fell trees and the judge continued an order preventing trespass onto the disputed lands.
The protesters are on State lands adjoining the disputed lands. Mr Dermot Flanagan, for the council, told the court the council had acquired State lands necessary for the road's construction. He said the council was coming under pressure from the National Roads Authority and wanted an early hearing of the dispute. The road scheme would be EUfunded, he added.
Mr Michael O'Donnell, for Mr Dermot Murphy, a protester and a computer technician of Exchequer Street, Dublin, said the council's land acquisition did not end the matter. Mr Murphy has instituted judicial review proceedings against the council challenging its decision to build the Kilmacanogue-Glen of the Downs dual carriageway.