Any delay in the construction of a £60 million privately-owned, power-generating station at Dungarvan, Co Waterford, could lead to serious financial penalties and jeopardise its allocation of natural gas, the High Court heard yesterday.
Mr Alistair Jessop, business development director with Rolls-Royce Power Ventures Ltd, a partner in the gas-fired generating plant, said the sole objector to planning permission was more concerned with obtaining nearby land at under value as well as a significant sum of money for herself.
Denying that claim, Ms Collette O'Connell said such allegations were untruthful and aimed at prejudicing court proceedings she had brought against Dungarvan Energy Ltd, which is building the plant at Shandon.
In an affidavit, Ms O'Connell, who lives with her family at Davis Street, next to the proposed power station, alleged she was offered £25,000 if she would withdraw her objections.
Yesterday was the second day of an action in which she is asking the court to grant her reliefs, including a declaration that works already carried out constitute unauthorised development. She is alleging that DEL is in breach of most of the conditions attached to planning permission given ala ????? in September.
DEL has said the only works it has so far undertaken are demolition and ancillary works. It has asked the court to strike out the proceedings as an abuse of process. The company has claimed there was a material non-disclosure of all the facts by Ms O'Connell in getting a temporary injunction last month.
The hearing continues today.