Houses and farms surrounding Lough Funshinagh in Roscommon are on a knife edge with flooding season around the corner.
That's according to councillor and local resident Laurence Fallon, who says the newest High Court action from Friends of the Irish Environment is a hammer blow to the community.
Works on the construction of a 3km pipeline designed to take water from the lough 12 km to nearby Lough Ree has been halted until at least the 14th of January.
The future of the works now depend on the outcome of a judicial review launched by FIE.
Speaking to Shannonside Northern Sound, Councillor Fallon says the courts decision has stolen Christmas for the locals.