In what was described as "a late- breaking development", a member of the Carlton group yesterday withdrew his High Court challenge to a Compulsory Purchase Order over a valuable site in central Dublin.
The move by Mr Richard Quirke has implications for a separate challenge to the same CPO by another member of the Carlton group.
Mr Quirke withdrew the challenge brought by him and some companies after receiving what was described to the court as "some comfort" from Dublin City Council in relation to the development of lands, which Mr Quirke wishes to sell to an unidentified buyer.
It is now unclear what direction a separate challenge to the CPO by property developer Mr Paul Clinton, another member of the Carlton group, will now take.
Mr Donal O'Donnell SC, for Mr Clinton, described what had happened as "a late-breaking development" and said he needed time to seek information about what had taken place between Mr Quirke, the council and other parties.
He would be asking the other parties to explain themselves in more detail.
He added that he "deprecated" the council and An Bord Pleanála making demands of Mr Clinton in relation to the effect on Mr Clinton of Mr Quirke's withdrawal. Mr Denis McDonald SC, for Mr Quirke, said his client's proceedings were separate from those of Mr Clinton and he did not concede that any party was entitled to further information.
Mr Clinton had at all times proceeded separately with his action. The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, said the effect of Mr Quirke's withdrawal was that Mr Clinton was faced with a "completely different landscape". Mr O'Donnell was entitled to time to consider the situation, he said, and listed the matter for mention on Monday.
