Locals continue to challenge County Meath development

EngineNode's proposed data center in County Meath is the subject of continued controversy, as locals argue that unauthorized development has already started on the site, while the company claims that the work is related to 'archaeological tests.' EngineNode says that the archaeological testing works are in compliance with regulations and have gone ahead in consultation with the National Monuments Service.

The claim made by Mannix Coyne and daughter Amy Coyne, outlines that works on the site went ahead before the legal challenge to the planning permission issue had reached a conclusion. The legal challenge by the Coynes says that planning permission for the development should be revoked.

According to the Coynes, the company has dug 206 trenches, more than 8 kilometers long, spanning 3.6 acres; however, Enginenode claims that it is just "digging and refilling of a number of holes." This has been disputed by the Coynes, with Peter Bland SC for the complainants saying: "If 8km of trenches are just a number of holes, then the Atlantic Ocean is just water."