Margaret Gannon, the wife of well-known developer Gerry Gannon, is seeking to bring a High Court challenge over permission granted for Vodafone to extend the height of a telecommunications mast near a property she owns in Co Leitrim.
Hatley Manor, St George’s Terrace, Carrick-on-Shannon was one of a number of properties owned by Mr Gannon which were legally transferred to his wife in 2009 around the time of the economic crash.
Ms Gannon, of Dublin Road, Sutton, Dublin, says she is concerned about the mast in relation to the “architectural integrity of the town”, which includes her property – a detached two-storey-over-basement house built by the St George family in about 1830 and part of an architecturally significant group of structures in the town.
These buildings, along with the Costello Chapel and McCann Memorial Clock, are all protected structures, she says.
Important and critical information that should have been lodged with the planning application was not provided, she says.
Both Leitrim County Council and An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission. The council and Vodafone are notice parties in her proceedings.
She also says the board inspector completely misinterpreted ministerial guidelines in relation to the siting of masts, one of which is that they should only be located in a residential area as a last resort.
