The Judge who halted the installation of a controversial flood relief pipe for Lough Funshinagh previously advised the environmental group who brought the action to the High Court in the first place, the Seanad has heard. Speaking in Seanad Éireann today as part of a dedicated hearing on Lough Funshinagh, local Senator Eugene Murphy urged the body to write to Mr Justice Simons to ask for compassion for the locals effected by what Senator Murphy called a 'Humanitarian Crisis'
The Friends of the Irish Environment were successful in 2022 in having the Lough Funshinagh emergency flood works stopped over concerns the plans were in breach of EU Law. The case, overseen by Mr Justice Garett Simons, forced the local authority to roll back on the installation of an underground overflow pipe that would take water from the turlough and pump it into the River Shannon. Two families were evacuated from their homes surrounding the lake at the beginning of this month due to safety concerns as waters significantly rose. Senator Murphy also told the Seanad today that the Judge previously acted as an advisor to the Friends of the Irish Environment and sought the Seanad's permission to seek a temporary lifting of the order from the judiciary to pump some water from the lake:
