Permission Granted To Challenge A6 Upgrade

An environmentalist has won permission from the High Court to challenge a new £160million road being developed through landscape made famous by poet Seamus Heaney.

Mr Chris Murphy was granted leave to seek a judicial review following concerns of the impact the A6 upgrade would have on wildlife in the area.

The planned upgrade of the A6 would run through landscape around Lough Neagh and Lough Beg.

Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Hazzard said: "While I had hoped that we would be able to proceed with this strategically important project, we will play our part to ensure that as Justice Maguire said, there will be a speedy date for a full hearing and I remain confident that we will be ultimately successful.

"I am absolutely committed to the construction of the A6, and will now explore our options for commencing construction on the unchallenged section of this project."

The challenge should proceed to a full hearing early next year.

First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said: "The citizens for whom we act in Government, and who we represent, are entitled to speedy judicial decision-making.

"No one will dictate to judges how they decide cases but we are alarmed by the time it often takes to hear cases and the time it takes to obtain any decision."

(CD/MH)