Omega, an airline refurbishing company controlled by Mr Des McEvaddy and his brother, Mr Ulick McEvaddy, has received an important boost in an action challenging EU noise pollution rules. In a reasoned opinion to the European Court of Justice yesterday, the EU's Advocate General upheld the company's claim that the regulation hampered their business plans.

Omega argued that regulations limiting aircraft noise prevented the firm from fitting new engines to Boeing 707s. Yesterday's judgment was not binding, but the Court usually follows the Advocate General's opinion.