Wicklow trust asks tribunal to look at land sale

The Blessington Heritage Trust is to ask the Moriarty Tribunal to look at the sale of Glen Ding wood in Co Wicklow to Roadstone, following the discovery of substantial new evidence, the Parnell Summer School was told yesterday.

Addressing the topic "Should Locals Get Involved in Local Politics", Mr Frank Corcoran chairman of the Blessington Heritage Trust, revealed that the trust intends to ask Mr Justice Moriarty to consider the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC) into the transaction.

The CAG in a report of an investigation into the State's sale of Glen Ding to Roadstone for mining purposes said the sale had been conducted "in an inappropriate manner". Earlier this year the PAC said in its opinion the explanation of public servants for the sale, was not credible.

"Both these reports unearthed new material which we intend to ask Mr Justice Moriarty to consider," said Mr Corcoran. While he accepted that Roadstone was precluded from the investigations of the Payments to Politicians Tribunal headed by Mr Justice Moriarty because Mr Justice Moriarty had informed the Government that he was a shareholder in the company, Mr Corcoran said this difficulty could be overcome.

"We are the only group that might have a problem with the situation and we are prepared to waive any objection we might have to Mr Justice Moriarty investigating," he said.

Mr Corcoran said that the issue of whether locals should get involved with local planning matters was clear: "Blessington has lost three archaeological sites of importance through quarrying. When the Glen Ding controversy arose Wicklow County Council was prepared to assist the development of quarrying which would have resulted in the loss of a fourth site.

"It was the Blessington Heritage Trust who said that the quarrying was illegal, who took the case to the High Court and eventually prevented the development." Mr Corcoran noted that in France local communities were given resources by the state to oppose unwanted development. And he listed other countries where he said local referendums were held to determine planning issues.

"We suggested a plebiscite in Blessington to determine whether the Glen Ding quarrying operation should go ahead, but Wicklow County Council refused it," he added.