Environmental Trust Ireland

Successful  LANDMARK  HIGH  COURT JUDGMENT AGAINST  AUGHINISH  EXPANSION:

Environmental Trust Ireland v An Coimisiun Pleanala and Aughinish Alumina 2026.

The High Court struck down the  Aughinish Alumina  planning expansion in  a major victory for Environmental Trust Ireland.  

 The Court quashed the Aughinish Alumina planning permission on grounds relating to seepage from the BRDA and flood risk assessment. Limerick based Environmental Trust Ireland stood alone in successfully challenging this development for the second time. 

The judgment criticises An Coimisiun Pleanala's handling of the planning record.

At  paragraphs 47 -53 of the judgment  Environmental Trust Ireland v An Coimisiun Pleanala & Aughinish Alumina Ltd [2026] IEHC 387 the High Court examined the integrity of the statutory planning file underpinning the decision to grant permission for the expansion of the Aughinish Alumina bauxite residue disposal facility.  The Court found that the official planning  record, as maintained and published, did not accurately reflect the evidential material and reports that formed part of the decision making process. 

The Court found that:

The planning authority's electronic document management system allowed post-decision alteration of documents within the statutory file. As a result, the public and certified planning record did not reliably reflect the contemporaneous decision making record.

In paragraphs 47-53, of the judgment strong language such as "materially false", and "falsified" is used to describe the effect of system changes and record alteration on the legal authenticity of the planning file.

Post judgment - Request by An Coimisiun Pleanala to remove the word "falisified" in the judgment.

Following the judgment An Coimisiun Pleanala made an application to the High Court on the 25th June 2026 seeking to have the word "falisfied"  removed from the judgment.  The Court did not amend the substantive judgment  and the wording as delivered remained unchanged.  A postcript was inserted after paragraph 53

High Court quashes Aughinish Alumina expansion in landmark environmental ruling | Irish Legal News 

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL TRUST IRELAND:

Environmental Trust Ireland is an Independent,  voluntary environmental organization comprised entirely of volunteers which is committed to environmental protection, biodiversity preservation, ecological crisis prevention based in Limerick and active throughout  Ireland.

Environmental Trust Ireland is a voice for the environment and the protection of human health. Independent of political, commercial and industrial interests. It exists to defend the natural environment where it is under threat and to safeguard communities from  environmental harm.

 Environmental  Trust Ireland is an entirely volunteer-run Environmental NGO.  It does not engage in crowd  fundraising,  it does not seek grants and it does not accept public or private funding.  Its work is carried out by volunteers who contribute their own time and expertise without financial remuneration. Environmental Trust Ireland,  is truly independent in carrying out its activities and does not accept external funding. The organisation is focused on safeguarding the environment, biodiversity, wildlife and  ecosystems. 

Environmental Trust Ireland was established in March 2019. Its President is co-founder  Solicitor, Michelle Hayes who is also a practising Solicitor in a  law firm based in Limerick.

Environmental Trust Ireland's has shaped aspects of Irish planning and environmental law, including judicial scrutiny of planning decisions, environmental assessment and compliance with EU environmental obligations.The organisation promotes environmental stewardship, compliance with environmental law and meaningful public participation in environmental decision-making.

A significant part of the organisation's work involves engaging with environmental, planning and regulatory processes. Environmental Trust Ireland makes submissions and observations to public authorities and regulatory bodies, including local authorities, An Coimisiun Pleanala and other decision-making bodies, on matters that affect the environment. Through this work, the organisation seeks to ensure that environmental considerations, legal obligations and principles of sustainable developments are properly taken into account in public decision making.

The organisation is active in a broad range  of environmental issues, including environmental protection, biodiversity, conservation and environmental governance.

Where necessary, Environmental Trust Ireland also participates in legal proceedings concerning environmental matters. It has been involved in significant environmental cases, including judicial review proceedings relating to the expansion of the bauxite disposal area at  Aughinish Alumina in County Limerick and other major environmental and planning decisions. These cases reflect the organisation's commitment to ensuring that environmental laws and protections are properly applied and enforced.

Examples of environmental protection work conducted by Environmental Trust Ireland:

Environmental Trust Ireland successfully took Judicial Review Proceedings against the expansion of the  Aughinish Alumina red mud bauxite waste disposal area and against the expansion of the quarry blasting area which concluded in 2023.  Since then, An Bord (Coimisiun) Pleanala has again granted planning permission to Aughinish Alumina permitting the bauxite residue  waste area expansion and the quarry pit expansion.  Environmental Trust Ireland has opposed this expansion for the second time and is awaiting a Judgment from the High Court.   Environmental Trust Ireland had raised concerns in the planning process that it is "an environmental disaster waiting to happen" 

Environmental Trust Ireland has opposed the River Shannon to Dublin water abstraction project to Dublin. The project, led by Uisce Eireann, would involve extracting up to 330 million litres of water per day from Parteen Basin on River Shannon and transporting it via a pipeline to the Midlands and the Greater Dublin area.

High Court quashes Aughinish Alumina expansion in landmark environmental ruling | Irish Legal News  ( 2026 )

https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/courts/2026/07/10/judge-insists-an-coimisiun-pleanala-falsified-records-in-aughinish-alumina-case/ 2026

Limerick environmental group halts expansion of Aughinish 'red mud' area  (2023)

Environmental group succeeds in quashing planning permission for Limerick strategic housing development | Irish Legal News 

Planners refuse proposed €100m biomethane plant in County Limerick - Ireland Live 

OCEI - Environmental Trust Ireland and Limerick City and County Council 

Plan to restrict judicial reviews branded ‘attack on the rule of law’ | Irish Legal News 

Environmental Trust Ireland

3 Glentworth Street,

Limerick.

Contact:

Email: environmentaltrustireland@gmail.com