M3 protesters jailed
- after refusing bail
By - Dan Collins.
FOUR of the five people who were arrested yesterday
during a demonstration against the controversial M3
motorway being routed close to the historic Hill of Tara
were detained in prison last night.
The protesters were jailed after refusing to accept bail
conditions imposed at Navan District Court.
Yesterday, seven protesters appeared in court, charged
with public order offences. Four were remanded in custody
after refusing to accept the conditions of bail, which
included not interfering or entering a construction site
associated with the M3. Three others were remanded on
bail to appear again at the next sitting of Navan
District Court next Wednesday.
The 60 protesters tried to block machinery from carrying
out demolition works at an archaeological site called
Soldier Hill on the northern slope of the Hill of Tara
when the arrests were made.
The demonstrators said that around 20 diggers and
bulldozers moved onto the hill early yesterday to carry
our preliminary works on the controversial road.
Laura Grealish of TaraWatch argued the gardaí had
arrested the wrong people.
"This is a trespass issue which is covered by civil law",
she said.
"If the construction company wants to prevent trespass
they should go to the High Court and seek an
injunction".
"What happened this morning is unacceptable and cannot be
condoned by anyone", said José Tamariz, managing
director of Eurolink, the company carrying out the
work.
"We recognise the protesters' right to protest peacefully
and legally but workers should be allowed to do their
work without interference".
He said the company fears the situation on the M3
construction site is becoming "more and more dangerous
every day".
Tarawatch called for a moratorium on all work on the M3
until a full investigation of the route was undertaken by
the European Commission.
The National Roads Authority has said the route is the
only one feasible and is aimed at reducing congestion on
the N3.
© The Irish Examiner, 19th. July 2007.
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Tara protesters jailed after rejecting bail terms
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