The High Court has permitted a local man to have archaeological experts carry out a limited inspection of the site at Thornton, north Co Dublin, where it is intended to build a new prison.
James Connolly SC, for Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, had argued that an order for an inspection of the entire 150-acre site would result in all work there having to stop, with resulting costs to the State of some €90,000 a week.
Local authority engineer Richard Merne, Newbarn, Killsallaghan, has brought two sets of proceedings challenging the proposed prison development, including proceedings in which he is seeking a declaration that the lands on which it is proposed to build the prison complex are a prehistoric archaeological site and a national monument within the meaning of the National Monuments Act.
A full hearing of both sets of proceedings has been fixed for January 22nd next but the court was told yesterday the hearing may have to be deferred for a week.
Earlier yesterday, Gerard Hogan SC, for Mr Merne, said his side wanted an order enabling them to inspect the entire prison site because they wanted to have their own survey of the relevant area.
His client was concerned there might be archaeological features outside the areas specified in the limited order.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said he would confine the inspection order to the limited area.
