The High Court has refused to overturn a Circuit Court finding that a London-based company is entitled to planning permission for a housing development at Lough Muckno, near Castleblayney in Co Monaghan.
Plans by Harrinbrook Properties to construct 51 holiday homes on an old car park site close to the scenic lake have given rise to one of the longest running planning rows in the State.
The firm was granted planning permission in April 1997, but this was later revoked.
In May 2002, Circuit Court Judge Deary upheld Harrinbrook's planning permission and today the High Court refused to overturn the finding.
Lough Muckno Regional Park consists of the 900-acre scenic lake and 80-acres of surrounding land, and was opened in 1981. By the mid-1990s it was in debt and the bail-out loans cost Monaghan Co Council €250,000 a year to service.
The council opted to lease the land to Harrinbrook but Castleblayney residents objected, leading to legal battles.
Monaghan Co Council is currently attempting to evict the company for non-compliance with its lease, but Harrinbrook is demanding millions of euro in compensation. That High Court case is still pending.
