Ireland's leading racehorse trainer, Mr Aidan O'Brien this afternoon won the right to challenge planning permission for an incinerator close to his 600-acre stud farm at Ballydoyle, Co Tipperary.
The project was green-lighted earlier this year by the South Tipperary County Council. Mr O'Brien took the issue to the High Court after claiming that the meat and bonemeal incinerator - set to be the first of its kind in Ireland - would harm his business and put at risk the health of local residents.
He also maintained that the local authority had not been able to take into account the environmental effects of the development when making its decision, because Ireland had not properly implemented the European Commission's Environmental Impact Directive.
The company behind the proposed facility, National Byproducts, contested the trainer's application to challenge the decision.
But Mr Justice Aindrias O'Caoimh granted the application - and also imposed a stay on an appeal to An Bord Pleanala, the Irish planning board, pending the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Afterwards Mr O'Brien said he and the owners of the nearby Coolmore Stud were very pleased with the decision.
The legal challenge to the incinerator may be delayed until early next year.