North West Radio 'devastated' at High Court decision
North West Radio, which is the licensed local broadcaster in the Sligo/South Donegal/North Leitrim region, has described today’s High Court decision not the reverse the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland’s decision to withdraw its broadcasting licence as "devastating".
The company will now study the findings of the High Court judgement and decide whether to appeal the matter to the Supreme Court.
The court verdict follows judicial review proceedings taken by the station in a bid to reverse the surprise decision of the BCI more than a year ago not to renew the licence which North West Radio had held for the past fourteen years.
“Obviously we are extremely disappointed with the decision. We always knew that the scope open to us under Judicial Review process was very limited and that given past cases it was always going to be an uphill battle”, according to station chief executive, Mr. Paul Claffey.
“However”, he added, “this was the only course of action open to us as there is no right of appeal against any decision made by the BCI”.
The decision of the BCI, in April last year, was a marginal one; the Chairman of the BCI cast his deciding vote in favour of a new consortium, Ocean fm, after six of a 10-member Commission had divided 3-3 as between North West Radio and Ocean fm.
