JUDGMENT was reserved yesterday in a High Court action taken by four applicants for the radio licence for Limerick city and county who are challenging a decision by the Independent Radio and Television Commission to reject their applications at a preliminary stage.
Maigueside Communications Limited, New Limerick FM Limited, Limerick 95 FM Limited and Mr Michael Richardson, Mr John Franks and Ms Wendi Ferris-Richardson (trading as Big L Radio Limerick) are challenging the procedures adopted by the IRTC.
Mr Adrian Hardiman SC, for the IRTC, said the action taken by the applicants was preventing the IRTC from awarding a new broadcasting contract for Limerick city and county.
Last week the Supreme Court relieved the IRTC of its undertaking which allowed Radio Limerick One Limited to continue broadcasting pending the appointment of a new operator.
The court was told the IRTC had no objection to the station continuing to operate until last July 31st.
Yesterday Mr Hardiman said the unsuccessful applicants had no right to obtain reasons to see whether the IRTC had erred in its decision.
Mr Hardiman said the IRTC chief executive, Mr Michael O'Keeffe, had denied a claim by one of the unsuccessful applicants that he had been asked to give reasons for the board's decision.
If such a request had been made he would have passed it on to the board.
Mr Paul Callan SC, for the applicants, said only those applications which had an obvious defect should have been precluded from going on to the final stage.
He claimed the procedure adopted by the IRTC was irrational and illogical.