The directors of a limited company formed by residents of Delgany, Co Wicklow, to oppose planning permission for a large-scale housing development on the outskirts of their village have been told that they are personally liable for more than £40,000 in High Court costs.
Delgany Area Residents' Association Ltd twice successfully appealed against Wicklow County Council's planning permissions for almost 300 houses between Killincarrig and Delgany. In conjunction with its second appeal to An Bord Pleanala it also petitioned the High Court in a judicial review aimed at preventing Wicklow County Council from continuing to grant similar permissions for the site.
The judicial review was not successful, and the residents' company was ordered to pay its own costs, as well as those of the county council and the proposed developer, Avmark Ltd.
Solicitors for Avmark and the county council have written to the directors of the residents' company telling them that they have instructions to seek their costs "by all means open to us". The letter states that these means include, "if appropriate", proceeding to make each director of the company personally liable for the costs.
However, Mr Paddy Dowling, the company's chairman, said the residents would not be intimidated by the demands.
While he was not underestimating the seriousness of the situation, Mr Dowling said, the residents had already spent £70,000 on their appeal and would be organising a fund-raising programme to cover the costs awarded against them.
He said that while "we have a need to fight we will continue to do all things legal and within our power".
He said that the fund-raising so far had been very encouraging. "The community is four-square behind us," he commented.