
Intention to appeal ruling on A5 upgrade
Ms Kimmins was speaking as she met campaigners from the A5 Enough is Enough group.
Last week, the High Court in Belfast quashed a Stormont decision to approve the major scheme.
It ruled in favour of a legal challenge to the £1.2 billion upgrade of the A5 linking counties Donegal to Monaghan through Tyrone and Derry.
The judge found the project did not comply with Stormont's own Climate Change Act.
He said the environmental impact of the scheme had not been properly assessed or scrutinised.
Minister Kimmins said that to appeal the court's decision would need approval by the Northern Ireland Executive.
"It's my priority that we find the best solution but the quickest solution. That is very complex.
"We need to do it very carefully and that's why I will not be knee-jerking in terms of decisions but we are carefully considering that [an appeal]. My officials, our legal team, are all doing that.
"I'm delighted to have the Enough is Enough campaign here today because I think its important that we all work together, that we provide united collaboration on this very important scheme, and that we get to the end result as quickly as possible."
Ms Kimmins said the upgrade is a flagship project and there are "wider implications" from the judgment.
"Everything remains on the table. We will look at all the options available to us. My priority and my determination is that we find a solution and we get this road built, so that no more lives are lost."
First Minister Michelle O'Neill said that Ms Kimmins "will bring forward a recommendation" to appeal the ruling.
She said the executive "agreed to continue working together with the local community to get this road built".
Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins will bring forward a recommendation to the Executive to appeal the A5 road court ruling.
Today, we met with the Enough is Enough campaign group and agreed to continue working together with the local community to get this road built.
The… pic.twitter.com/nlgMgLHp9Y
— Michelle O'Neill (@moneillsf) July 1, 2025
Following the meeting, A5 Enough is Enough Chairman Niall McKenna said: "The judgment itself last week said that the one thing that is certain is that further delay will lead to further deaths on the road.
"We have implored the department to act decisively and to act fast and we would welcome an appeal."
The flagship project has been promised €600 million from the Irish Government.
Since the scheme was first proposed by the Stormont Executive in 2007, 57 people have died on the A5.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Sally Rooney will remain 'committed supporter of Palestine Action', court told
Sally Rooney has told the High Court she is 'and will continue to be a committed supporter' of Palestine Action, which failed to secure a temporary block on it being banned as a terrorist group on Friday. The Irish author said in court documents that the ban would prevent her from speaking at future public events as she 'could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles' if it comes into effect at 12.01am on Saturday as planned. If the ban does come into effect, it would make membership of, or support for, Palestine Action a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action Rooney has provided support for a legal claim by Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, against the Home Office, over the decision to proscribe the group under the Terrorism Act 2000. Ms Ammori asked a High Court judge on Friday to temporarily block the move from becoming law over the weekend, ahead of a bid to be given the green light to challenge the Government's decision later this month. But in a ruling, Mr Justice Chamberlain refused to block the ban, stating that any harm caused is 'insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force'. Barristers for Ms Ammori are seeking to appeal against the ruling on Friday evening. In her witness statement, cited in Mr Justice Chamberlain's judgment, Rooney said the 'cultural effects' of Palestine Action becoming proscribed 'could not be easily mended'. She said: 'Though I am based in Ireland, my work is published in the UK. My novels regularly appear in bestseller lists, and I often travel to Britain to speak in public about my work. 'I am and will continue to be a committed supporter of Palestine Action. 'If… that support is criminalised, I will effectively be prevented from speaking at any future public events in the UK, since I could not in good conscience disguise or lie about my principles in public. For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists 'If I continue to voice support for Palestine Action from my home in Ireland, what are the likely consequences? Will I be denounced publicly by the Prime Minister? 'Will bookshops go on stocking the work of an author the home secretary has branded a 'terrorist' simply for supporting a protest group? 'The BBC has adapted two of my books for television; both series are presently promoted on the iPlayer service. Normal People, which I co-wrote and produced, was the BBC's most-streamed series in 2020, with over 62 million views. 'My beliefs have not changed since the making of that series, and I have done nothing but continue to express them. 'If the expression of those beliefs becomes a terror offence under UK law, would the BBC continue to screen and promote my work? 'Is it likely that I could ever again collaborate with British public institutions like the BBC as I have done in the past? 'The cultural effects of proscription could not be easily mended, even if the home secretary later changed her mind. 'For any public figure to be labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' by the state would have serious consequences. If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday after the order was signed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper (PA) 'It would likely end or severely restrict the careers of many emerging artists. ''Terrorism' is not a trivial word.' In written submissions for Friday's hearing, Raza Husain KC, for Ms Ammori, said that Rooney 'will continue to voice her support from Ireland' for the group. He said: 'Given her public support for Palestine Action… she is concerned that being labelled a 'supporter of terrorism' would have serious impacts on her ability to collaborate and publicise her work.' He continued: 'Ms Rooney notes that 'countless artists, writers and members of the public support direct action against complicity in what Israel is doing in Palestine', including Juliet Stevenson, Paul Weller, Tilda Swinton, Brian Eno, and other signatories to an open letter dated 30 June 2025.' If Palestine Action loses its bid to temporarily block the move, it is due to become a terrorist organisation on Saturday, after the order was signed by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe the direct action group last month, after two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an action claimed by Palestine Action. Read More Eight men jailed for 129 years after record €157m cocaine seizure off Cork coast


Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Palestine Action to make Court of Appeal bid at evening hearing over terror ban
Palestine Action will head to the Court of Appeal to ask for permission to challenge a High Court judge's refusal to temporarily block it from being designated as a terror group. Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, asked the High Court to temporarily block the Government from banning the group as a terrorist organisation before a potential legal challenge against the decision to proscribe it under the Terrorism Act 2000. The move was to come into force at midnight after High Court judge Mr Justice Chamberlain refused Ms Ammori's bid for a temporary block. However, the PA news agency understands that lawyers on behalf of the group will ask appeal judges for the go-ahead to challenge the decision in a hearing due to begin at about 7pm on Friday. In his decision refusing the temporary block, Mr Justice Chamberlain said: 'I have concluded that the harm which would ensue if interim relief is refused but the claim later succeeds is insufficient to outweigh the strong public interest in maintaining the order in force.' Shortly after the decision was handed down, Ms Ammori said that she would be 'seeking an urgent appeal to try to prevent a dystopian nightmare of the Government's making'. She added: 'The Home Secretary is rushing through the implementation of the proscription at midnight tonight despite the fact that our legal challenge is ongoing and that she has been completely unclear about how it will be enforced, leaving the public in the dark about their rights to free speech and expression after midnight tonight when this proscription comes into effect. 'Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have expressed support for Palestine Action by joining our mailing list, following and sharing our social media content and signing petitions, and many, including iconic figures like Sally Rooney, say they will continue to declare 'we are all Palestine Action' and speak out against this preposterous proscription, demonstrating how utterly unworkable it will be.' Read More Young Europeans losing faith in democracy, poll finds


Extra.ie
15 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Ashling Murphy's partner 'finally free' as he settles defamation case against BBC
Ryan Casey – the partner of murdered schoolteacher Ashling Murphy – said yesterday he is 'finally free' to advocate for a 'better and safer Ireland' after settling his High Court claim for defamation against the BBC. Mr Casey, 27, sued the British broadcaster following an episode of political programme The View that was shown live on November 30, 2023, and on which Irish Times journalist Kitty Holland appeared. He alleged it contained criticism of the victim impact statement he had given at the sentencing hearing of Jozef Puska, with a suggestion it could excite anti-migrant sentiment. Ashling Murphy and Ryan Casey. Pic: Facebook Puska, originally from Slovakia, stabbed 23-year-old Ms Murphy 11 times in the neck in a random attack in January 2022 along the Grand Canal in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Mr Casey is understood to have received substantial damages, as well as a contribution towards his costs, amounting to a six-figure sum. In his victim impact statement, he had said: 'It just sickens me to the core that someone can come to this country, be fully supported in terms of social housing, social welfare, and free medical care for over ten years, never hold down a legitimate job and never once contribute to society in any way, shape or form [and] can commit such a horrendous, evil act of incomprehensible violence on such a beautiful, loving and talented person.' Ashling Murphy and Ryan Casey. Pic: Facebook He added: 'This country needs to wake up; this time, things have got to change.' In a statement read to the High Court by barrister Alan Keating, the BBC said it acknowledged Mr Casey's personal tragedy, but it stood by the journalism involved. It said the programme had discussed Mr Ryan's victim impact statement and had debated serious issues of public interest. Ashling Murphy and Ryan Casey. Pic: Collect 'The BBC, however, is happy to clarify that it does not consider Ryan Casey to be a criminal or a racist, or someone guilty of or attempting to incite racial hatred, or someone seeking to pose as a hero of the far right,' the broadcaster said. 'The statement clarifies any unintentional inferences that could have been drawn from the broadcast and has enabled the BBC and Ryan Casey to resolve the matter amicably.' Ronan Lupton, Mr Casey's barrister, said the case could be struck out by Judge Alex Owens. Speaking outside court yesterday, Mr Casey – who met Ms Murphy at an underage disco in 2013 – said: 'Today marks the end of a long and difficult chapter of frustration and censorship. I took this legal action against the BBC not solely out of anger, but out of a need for accountability and dignity for Ashling, for myself, our families, and for all victims who deserve to have their voices heard without such harsh criticism or judgment.' Thanking those people who had supported him, he continued: 'This was never just about me, it was about truth, fairness and decency. 'I now move forward, finally free to use my voice again, to honour Ashling and to advocate for the changes we desperately require in this country, for the increased safety measures we so clearly need, and for a society that listens to its people, free of gaslighting, blacklisting or censorship. We all have a lot more in common than what separates us. Let's honour Ashling by building a better and safer Ireland. We all know we can do so much better.' Jozef Puska's brothers, Marek and Lubomir Jr, were convicted last month of withholding information, while his sisters-in-law, Jozefina Grundzova and Viera Gaziova, were found guilty of burning his clothes after the murder. All four family members were living with Jozef Puska, his wife and 14 children in Co Offaly at the time. Puska's wife, Lucia Istokova, pleaded guilty to withholding information. The DPP said the two brothers misled gardaí and withheld 'crucial, relevant and significant' information when they gave voluntary interviews in Tullamore two days after Ms Murphy's death. They did not tell gardaí that Jozef Puska returned home on the night of the murder with visible injuries, admitted to killing or seriously injuring a woman with a knife and subsequently travelled to Dublin. In her closing speech, prosecutor Anne Marie Lawlor told the jury that all the defendants knew what Jozef Puska had done shortly after 9.30pm on the night of the murder. She said the killer told Lubomir Jr and Marek, who then relayed it to the others in the house. Ms Lawlor said in her closing address that the only reason for the withholding of evidence or the burning of clothes was that the defendants didn't want Jozef Puska to be apprehended or prosecuted for murder.