Two objectors to an 850 million euro data centre in Athenry have been refused permission to take their case to the Court of Appeal.

Local residents Allan Daly and Sinead Fitzpatrick wanted to appeal the Commercial Court’s decision to uphold the granting of planning permission by An Bord Pleanala.

They claimed the planning board failed to take account of the potential environmental impact of the project, but Mr Justice Paul McDermott  said he was not satisfied that their argument constituted a point of law of exceptional public importance, or that it should be the subject of an appeal in the public interest.

Legal representatives for the objectors can still apply to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal the decision to a higher court.

Speaking with Midwest News, Paul Keane of the campaign group "Athenry for Apple" has welcomed today's High Court decision.