Shareholder fails to halt goldmine extension

A CO Tyrone man has lost his latest legal challenge to the extension of a neighbouring goldmine.

William Donnelly took action over the decision to approve underground work on the site at Cavanacaw, near Omagh.

But the Court of Appeal dismissed claims that more than 20 hectares at the location was never properly assessed.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan ruled that features within the planning application process “overwhelmingly identified” the full scale of the project.

Mr Donnelly said he is now considering mounting a Supreme Court challenge.

Mining has been carried out at the site by Omagh Minerals, a subsidiary of Canadian firm Galantas Gold Corporation.

In 2015 the then Environment Minister Mark H Durkan gave the green light to the extended project.

Planning permission was granted for underground work at the existing mine on the basis of compliance with strict environmental conditions.

But Mr Donnelly, who has shares in the goldmine, claimed there was an unauthorised removal of large quantities of rock.

In September last year a judge dismissed Mr Donnelly’s initial challenge against the minister’s decision.

He appealed that verdict in a fresh attempt to have the approval quashed and a new planning process undertaken.