Protester sustained by peas and
Pearse
By - Adam Harvey, at Rath Lugh.
CONSTRUCTION OF a contentious section of the M3 motorway
at Rath Lugh, near Tara, Co. Meath, is being delayed by a
subterranean protester who is refusing to emerge from a
10m (33ft) deep tunnel dug into the motorway site.
Lisa Feeney from Dublin, who says she is a psychology
graduate aged in her early 20s, told The Irish Times via
two-way radio yesterday that she was "comfortable",
well-equipped and was passing her time by reading a book
by Pádraig Pearse by candlelight.
"It's grand", Ms. Feeney said. "They haven't cut off my
air supply, so it's comfortable enough. I'm prepared to
stay here for months".
The protesters are objecting to a motorway coming so
close to the ancient Rath Lugh promontory fort, which has
been declared a national monument, as well as cutting
through an area that contains scores of significant
heritage sites dating back 2,000 years and more. Three
protesters were arrested last night.
Ms. Feeney said that she was in a chamber built at the
bottom of a 33ft. tunnel, which was dry, warm and well
ventilated by a wind-powered pump. She has tinned food,
as well as dried peas and beans which she intends to
sprout in water in order to sustain herself.
Ms. Feeney and other M3 protesters had dug a shaft
directly down into the steep embankment of the Rath Lugh
"esker" - a glacial formation of rock and sand - since
August, supporting the sides with pieces of plywood and
timber.
At the bottom of the shaft they had widened it into a
chamber that was supported by more timber and a car jack.
Protesters said that Ms. Feeney had chained herself to
the car jack, which also served as the main structural
support for the chamber where she is holding out.
Meath County Council fire officers yesterday refused to
enter the tunnel to try to bring her to the surface. By
yesterday afternoon, her actions appeared to leave little
work for a contingent of approximately 20 gardaí
and about 30 construction workers.
After assessing the tunnel, fire officers decided that
attempting a forcible entry would pose a threat to Ms.
Feeney's life, said Bill Sweeney, a spokesman for the
council.
The workers and gardaí arrived at Rath Lugh at
about 7am yesterday and began evicting protesters from
the path of the motorway as workers tore down a temporary
fort built into the side of the esker. The demolition
work was delayed by 10 protesters who had chained
themselves to rocks, metal cylinders and a 44-gallon drum
that was dug and concreted into the hillside. Other
protesters supplied their locked-in comrades with
cigarettes and hot drinks as they peppered gardaí
and workers with insults.
"Murderers", shouted one protester, Lou. "You are putting
the life of a girl at risk".
Phillip Cantwell, an independent councillor with Trim
town council, shouted that gardaí were assisting
with an "illegal act" as Rath Lugh was a protected
national monument. He said the motorway builders did not
have the necessary approval to remove the protesters and
begin work on Rath Lugh.
Seán O'Neill, a spokesman for the National Roads
Authority, said the workers were trying to build a "crib
wall" to support the Rath Lugh esker. "What the
protesters are doing is counter-productive", said Mr.
O'Neill.
"The crib wall is there to protect the monument".
He was alarmed at the prospect of Ms Feeney staying
underground for several months. "That is deeply
concerning", he said. "If they've dug something far
enough underground that they can stay there for several
months they might be causing significant damage to the
national monument itself".
© The Irish Times, 14th. March 2008.
Related Articles:
High Court rejects bid to halt work on M3
motorway.
Green Party accused of U-turn in debate over M3 motorway
works.
M3 protester chains herself to tunnel in tense
stand-off.
Tunnel protest fails to stop M3 work.
NRA denies undermining Rath Lugh monument.
Tara
protesters in for long haul.
Minister
places Permanent Order on Rath Lugh. Statement,
DoEH&LG.
M3 Protesters warn Gardaí: Tunnel "Will collapse".
Statement, STC.
M3 motorway protesters claim to have entered tunnel under
road.
21st. century souterrain. Statement. Rath Lugh Direct
Action Camp.
