EXCLUSIVE: Ex-Limerick hurling manager Tom Ryan loses High Court case over US multinational’s expansion

FORMER Limerick hurling manager Tom Ryan has had his High Court proceedings over a planned extension by Analog Devices in Raheen Industrial Estate dismissed, Limerick Live can reveal.

Mr Justice David Holland gave his written judgment this Thursday.

Mr Ryan’s High Court judicial review was brought over An Bord Pleanála’s September 2023 grant of permission to the major US chipmaker for the construction of a liquid hydrogen storage tank, alterations to equipment and associated works in the industrial estate.

Mr Ryan also challenged the board’s approval in August 2023 for significant extensions by Analog at the same site.

The judgement states that: “Broadly, Mr Ryan objects to the proposed developments by reference to alleged pollution of the storm water discharge of the business park.”

Analog announced in May 2023 that it will invest €630 million in its research and development manufacturing plant in Limerick, creating 600 local jobs. Analog is already one of Limerick’s biggest employers with 1,300 staff members.

Mr Ryan, a dairy farmer in Ballynoe, Mungret raised concerns in a Limerick Leader article in 2022, claiming that “pollution and severe flooding coming from Raheen Industrial Estate is contaminating my land.”

He said when the industrial estate was formed the council created a canal on Loughmore Common to take surplus water off the industrial estate.

“There is a large pipe coming from the industrial estate. It goes under the road and flows into Loughmore Canal. At the end of the canal, which is a massive trench, it joins the Barnakyle stream on my land. It is like the Mississippi flowing into the River Loobagh in Kilmallock – you have a huge canal flowing into a small stream,” said Mr Ryan.

He said he has had to put down a number of cattle after they developed “mysterious lumps” (pictured below). 

“The lumps along their jaws were interfering with their throats and they couldn't swallow,” said Mr Ryan.

Mr Justice Holland said in the written judgement that Mr Ryan says that Limerick City and County Council and the IDA do not really dispute that the pollution is occurring and Mr Ryan has spent years trying to have it addressed. 

“But, despite investigation, they have failed to identify the pollution source or the polluter. He (Mr Ryan) essentially took the position that all development of and in the business park, including by Analog, should cease until the pollution has been stopped,” said Mr Justice Holland.

The High Court judge noted that pollution of the Loughmore Canal has been the subject of considerable media attention which has “in effect stigmatised his land and stock such that he has difficulty trading”. 

“He (Mr Ryan) fears that he is seen as a ‘crank’ and an ‘objector’,” said Mr Justice Holland.

The judge said in conclusion of his 92 page judgment that he was dismissing these proceedings. 

“I do so not without some sympathy for Mr Ryan’s position generally. But in my view he chose, in Analog, a target against whom there was no evidence that it has caused or contributed to, or that its proposed developments would cause or contribute to, the pollution of which he complains,” said Mr Justice Holland. 

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Ultimately, that the risk allegedly posed by Analog is no more than hypothetical and theoretical is the main reason for dismissal of all grounds, he said. 

“Indeed, Mr Ryan did not even allege that Analog’s proposed developments would pose a risk – he did no more than speculate without evidence that they might. In respect of both grounds Mr Ryan bore a relatively light burden but failed to discharge it,” said Mr Justice Holland.

The High Court judge said he provisionally considers that there should be no order as to costs. He will list this case on March 10, 2025 for consideration of final orders.