Kildare farmer wins IDA Supreme Court appeal

Thomas Reid, Leixlip won his Supreme Court case on Thursday to stop the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) compulsorily purchasing his family farm.

Farmers Journal

6 November 2015

Kildare farmer wins IDA Supreme Court appeal

Four Courts, Dublin City.

Thomas Reid farms in Leixlip, Co Kildare, and his farm adjoins the Intel site. He took a case against the IDA and the State after the IDA notified him of its intention to acquire his land.

After he previously lost his case in the High Court two years ago, five Supreme Court judges overruled the decision on Thursday and ruled the compulsory purchase could not go ahead.

Patrick Butler SC, who represented Reid, told the Irish Farmers Journal that a key argument in winning the case was that the 1986 Industrial development act section 16 used by the IDA does not provide for an independent review of the decision to compulsorily acquire land.

A representative from the IDA has said the “IDA is considering today’s judgement and will not be making any comment at this time.”

The land, which the IDA wants for potential new development, adjoins both the Carton House Estate and the Intel site in Leixlip.

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