Galway Bay fm newsroom - An Taisce has secured a court order restraining a quarry near Tuam from operating.
The Supreme Court has ruled that An Taisce is entitled to the order because it constitutes unauthorised development.
According to today's Irish Examiner, a 6-month stay applies to the stone quarry operated by McTigue Quarries about 7 kilometres from Tuam.
Justice John MacMenamin said the order was made for reasons including 'material' breach of the planning code.
He added that if the suggestions that the county council is a customer of the quarry are true, there is a risk of a conflict of interest.
Judge MacMenamin said the quarry had been operating for at least 10 years, which was never granted planning permission.
In 2015, An Bord Pleanála granted substitute consent to the quarry, which McTigue argued had the same legal effect as planning permission.
However the judge rejected that argument and approved the order by An Taisce.
He approved a 6 month stay on the quarry operation to allow the company time to reapply for planning permission.
