Protection of rare bird of prey could halt Donegal wind farm

Irish Raptor Study Group seeking High Court order quashing decision to grant permission

Wed, Sep 19, 2018, 15:34

Ray Managh

The protection of one of Ireland’s rarest birds of prey could potentially stop the multi-million-euro development of a wind farm in Meenbog, Co Donegal.

The Irish Raptor Study Group, a voluntary organisation committed to the monitoring for conservation purposes of birds of prey, particularly the Hen Harrier and Buzzard throughout Ireland, has been granted leave to legally challenge An Board Pleanála’s approval of the development.

Mr Justice David Barniville said in the High Court Wednesday that on October 25th he would consider setting a date for a judicial review and directed that all parties have relevant documentation lodged in court by October 19th.

Barrister David Browne, who appeared with Fred Logue of FP Logue Solicitors for the Study Group, told the court his client was seeking an order quashing the planning board’s decision of June 25th last granting the developer Planree Limited planning permission.

Although the main thrust of the proceedings is against An Bord Pleanála the developer and Donegal County Council have been joined as notice parties.

Ryan Wilson-Parr, of Gleann Alainn, Drogheda, Co Louth, who is chairman of the bird protection group, claims the planning permission is contrary to the European Birds Directive and to the Planning and Development Act.

Continued

Fifteen Whooper Swans electrocuted in Co Donegal

30/11/2017

At least 15 Whooper Swans were electrocuted at a single site in north-east Co Donegal earlier this autumn, according to BirdWatch Ireland.

The swan carcasses were discovered lying under electricity lines near the village of Carrigans, close to the border with Northern Ireland. BirdWatch Ireland staff member Daniel Moloney travelled to the scene and confirmed that the swans had collided with the wires in flight and that they had each been electrocuted. A high proportion of the dead swans were juveniles.

It appears that the deaths were the result of multiple, separate collisions with the electricity wires over a period of several weeks. Some of the birds were freshly dead, while others showed varying levels of decomposition, indicating that they had died on different occasions.

The culpable wires were fitted with "deflectors", which are supposed to make them more visible to flying birds, but these appear not to have worked satisfactorily in this case. Indeed, several of the deflector devices had been knocked off the wires due to the swan collisions, further reducing the wires' visibility.

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