A sculptor has secured leave to challenge Dublin Corporation's decision to erect a millennium monument, "an anorexic alien body", in O'Connell Street, Dublin.
The challenge by Ms Mary Duniyva, Windsor Road, Rathmines, Dublin, is the second taken in the High Court to the proposed monument. She told the court the planned edifice, commonly refer red to as "The Spike", would be "an anorexic alien body, alien from every angle in material, size, shape and symbolism".
Ms Duniyva, a sculptor and poet, said the proposed 400-foot memorial would not bear any relation to existing buildings in terms of scale or quality. Steel, the choice of material in the winning design, was a "cold mass which would extend into the Dublin skyline thereby negating the friendliness and warmth of the citizens of Dublin".
The High Court has already given artist and retired school inspector Mr Michael O'Nuallain, of Belgrave Square, Monkstown, Co Dublin, permission to seek orders preventing construction of the high monument.
Yesterday, Mr Martin Giblin SC, for Ms Duniyva, told Mr Justice Smyth his client was seeking an order to prevent any work being carried out on the construction of the spire.
Ms Duniyva, in her affidavit, said she entered the competition to design a monument. The winning design did not relate to the quality or scale of O'Connell Street as represented by the late 18th century and early 20th century architecture and civic design.
The design departed from the design parameters set down by the corporation, she complained, and she had lodged an objection. Mr Justice Smyth gave Ms Duniyva leave by way of judicial review to seek an order quashing the corporation's decision.