Tyrone Gold Mine Faces Legal Challenge

A goldmining company has been accused of not consulting with the public effectively over the building of a major gold mine in County Tyrone.

A landmark legal challenge against the controversial Greencastle development got underway at Belfast's High Court today, Wednesday 05 December.

Canadian firm Dalradian is seeking planning permission to operate a mine in the Sperrin mountains.

Up to £3 billion worth of gold is said to be deposited at the site.

The Greencastle, Rouskey and Gortin (GRG) community has presented a challenge to the Department of Infrastructure's handling of the public consultation, claiming that it was inadequate.

The Department is duty-bound to ensure that companies planning regionally-significant developments consult properly with the surrounding community before an application is submitted.

The residents claimed the two-day event on the possible gold mine did not have any information about it's size, which it is now known to be 144 hectares of above-ground development in a designated protected landscape.

Sinn Fein MP Órfhlaith Begley welcomed the legal challenge, and expressed her concern for the development in a statement: "Local communities will be the most impacted by this goldmine and processing plant proposal therefore it is essential that a meaningful consultation takes place. 

"The legal challenge being taken by the Concerned Residents group is based on the view that there were significant flaws in the consultation with the local community.

"This Judicial Review will enable the court to examine this and decide if they feel the people living in the area have been adequately consulted.

"Due process in terms of this case must now take its course but Sinn Fein’s opposition to this proposal is very clear."

The West Tyrone MP added that her party first reflected their opposition to the planning application two years ago, as they are against the use of cyanide in mining and recognise the environmental challenges caused by digging for precious metals and extracting non-renewable natural resources, with "little or no benefit to local communities".

"Furthermore, our Former Infrastructure Minister Chris Hazzard MP made it clear that any planning application to mine in Tyrone should be subject to an independent public inquiry."



(JG)