The first stage of the Public Inquiry into the controversial Dalradian goldmine planning application in County Tyrone began on 20th March 2024. Our client Martin Tracey, with the assistance of counsel Dan O’Muirigh Bl, was among many others at today’s pre-inquiry meeting to voice their concerns before the Planning Appeal Commission (PAC).
Over 40,000 people have lodged objections to the application citing its foreseeable negative impacts on the local community, environment, water, wildlife, and health. Matters under scrutiny by the Inquiry will include Dalradian Gold’s application to open the largest gold mine anywhere in Ireland to include a processing plant and waste and explosive stores as well as its request for permission to discharge wastewater into the Curraghinalt and Pollanroe burns.
Our client advised the Inquiry of his significant concerns that “the applications before the inquiry pose clear risks to human life and threaten serious harm to the local community and natural environment”. Our client called on the PAC and Minister for Infrastructure to ensure the Inquiry will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner and give opponents to the project an opportunity to effectively present their case in line with the ‘equality of arms’ principle in light of the dangers he and many others in the community foresee if the Department for Infrastructure grant permission to Dalradian’s application; Our client stated that “only an independent expert led inquiry that will properly investigate the potential dangers of the gold mine development will satisfy the community, whether this Inquiry does that will remain to be seen”.
After the 20th March hearing session, Cathal Mullan, trainee lawyer of Harte Coyle Collins, said today;
“Our client is right to have serious concerns as to the effectiveness of this process where the Department for Infrastructure have shown themselves to be utterly unprepared in answering the most basic questions from the Inquiry panel. This is even more worrying given the possible implications of this project to adversely affect the human rights of those in the Greencastle area in breach of their rights enshrined in domestic law. We have written to the PAC Chief Commissioner and Minister for Infrastructure on behalf of our client outlining our his concerns and await their response”.
The PAC Inquiry on will open for hearings on 10th September 2024.
Mr Tracey is represented by the Environmental Law Department of Harte Coyle Collins comprising partners Patricia Coyle and Nichola Harte and trainee lawyers Cathal Mullan and Meadbh O Dowd.
Contact 02890-278227
