August 2, 1997
U2 finally found what they were looking for last night.
After weeks of wrangling they were given permission to play in their home town.
A High Court ban on their two open-air Lansdowne Road concerts at the end of this month was overturned in the Supreme Court.
And singer Bono, currently wowing audiences across Europe on the band's spectacular PopMart tour - was delighted.
"We're all thrilled to be able to play in Dublin - the town where we were born and all grew up," he said.
The landmark judgement by Mrs Justice Susan Devehan will save the country's rock promoters millions.
If the decision had gone against Ireland's most famous rock and roll sons all future open-air concerts would have been in jeopardy.
As jubilant fans flooded U2's management office with calls celebrating the victory, U2 manager Paul McGuinness breathed a sigh of relief.
He said: "We're so glad common sense has prevailed."
More than 80,000 fans had paid over pounds 2million for tickets to see their heroes on their home turf.
But a hatful of residents along posh Lansdowne Road objected to the rock extravangza.
Among the three objectors was the wife of former Irish rugby international Brendan Mullin.
They argued that planning permission was required for the concerts on the 30th and 31st of this month..
Last week the High Court agreed with them and ordered that the gigs be scrapped.
The decision caused outrage among the group's fans and even the general public felt it was an embarrassment that Ireland's most famous group were not being allowed to perform in their own country.
But yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that the High Court was wrong to make an order in favour of the residents relating to what was only a possible breach of the planning code.
Europe on the band's spectacular PopMart tour - was delighted.
"We're all thrilled to be able to play in Dublin - the town where we were born and all grew up," he said.
The landmark judgement by Mrs Justice Susan Devehan will save the country's rock promoters millions.
If the decision had gone against Ireland's most famous rock and roll sons all future open-air concerts would have been in jeopardy.
As jubilant fans flooded U2's management office with calls celebrating the victory, U2 manager Paul McGuinness breathed a sigh of relief. He said: "We're so glad common sense has prevailed."
More than 80,000 fans had paid over pounds 2million for tickets to see their heroes on their home turf. The first concert sold out in less than four hours.
But a hatful of residents along posh Lansdowne Road objected to the rock extravaganza.
Among the three objectors was the wife of former Irish rugby international Brendan Mullin.
They argued that planning permission was required for the concerts on the 30th and 31st of this month.
Last week the High Court agreed with them and ordered that the gigs be scrapped.
The decision caused outrage among the group's fans.
Even the general public felt it was an embarrassment that Ireland's most famous group were not being allowed to perform in their own country.
But yesterday the Supreme Court ruled that the High Court had no jurisdiction to make an order in favour of the residents relating to what was only an anticipated breach of the planning code.
And the fans who had been on tenterhooks for a week finally knew Bono and the boys were coming home.
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