The High Court has overturned a controversial planning decision to allow Ireland’s first legal heroin injection facility to be set up in Dublin city centre.
It follows a challenge by the board of management at a nearby national school, who claimed their concerns about the wellbeing of their pupils were ignored.
From 6am to 9pm, seven days a week, Merchants Quay Ireland was given permission to provide private booths in the basement of the Riverbank Centre in Dublin city where drug users could inject heroin under the supervision of medical professionals.
The board of management at a nearby national school questioned the appropriateness of having such a centre just 150m away from young impressionable schoolchildren.
They cited a report from a clinical psychologist who raised concerns about the children being exposed to what appeared to be the normalisation of illegal drug use.
In overturning the planning permission, the High Court said An Bord Pleanála didn’t engage adequately with their submissions.
The decision has now been set aside and the court is of the view that it should be reconsidered by the planning board.
