A senior planner with Mayo County Council told the High Court yesterday he advised the council against a mining ban in the 1992 county development plan. But Mr Iain Douglas, the council's executive planner, said even without the mining ban, it would be difficult to secure planning permission for mining in certain parts of Co Mayo.

Mr Douglas was giving evidence on the sixth day of the action for £2 million damages by Glencar and Andaman Resources plc, against Mayo County Council's ban on mining.

The ban, applicable to one-seventh of the area of Co Mayo, was overturned by the High Court in December 1992.

Mr Douglas told Mr James O'Reilly SC, for the council, that he and other officials were against the ban because they believed existing policies offered adequate protection. Many submissions were received on the draft development plan and all were considered by the council. Councillors had also visited Tara Mines before reaching their decision to formally insert the ban. Despite the ban, there was still the option of making a planning application and each application would have to be objectively considered, he said. But there would be great difficulty in securing planning permission for a mining development around Louisburgh, covered by Glencar's exploration licences, he believed.

These were internationally recognised as having wilderness value and were a cornerstone of the county's tourism strategy. The area had been identified by reputable tourism consultants as being in almost pristine condition environmentally.