Activists call on Minister to
visit Tara
By - Tim O'Brien.
PROTESTERS CAMPED near the Hill of Tara in Co. Meath have
called on Minister for Environment John Gormley to "come
and see for himself" that the M3 motorway is being built
within the preservation area of the Rath Lugh national
monument.
The call came as it emerged road builder Siac Ferrovial
was arranging for a specialist risk assessor from Britain
to examine tunnels which have been dug under the route of
the road by the protesters. The specialist is due on site
tomorrow, according to sources.
The protesters also want Mr. Gormley to view the tunnels,
particularly the underground chamber in which Lisa Feeney
has pledged to remain, to prevent what the groups says
would be "further damage" to the esker on which the Rath
Lugh national monument stands.
Speaking to The Irish Times yesterday, protesters'
spokesman Terry Canty said members of the camp were
concerned about Ms. Feeney's safety. She would be in
great danger if road-building machines were to resume
work in the area, he said. However, he said the members
fully supported her decision to remain underground
insisting that "everyone is totally committed".
Commenting on the media interest in Ms. Feeney's decision
to move into the tunnel with supplies of food, books and
a sleeping bag, Mr. Canty said: "There are nearly more
journalists here than campaigners, you know".
He insisted that the protesters were on the right side of
the law in attempting to halt work on the motorway.
"It is all within 25 feet of the foot of the monument -
that's within the preservation area around the base of
Rath Lugh. It is not us who are breaking the law, here it
is the whole road that is illegal", he said.
"We want Gormley to come down in person and see the
destruction to the hill and the damage being done".
Asked what the protesters would do if the Minister did
not come, Mr. Canty said they would remain as long as
necessary. He repeated that each member of the camp was
"totally committed".
Saint Patrick's weekend is not being forgotten by the
protesters either, and a general call has gone out for
musicians to come to the Hill of Tara for a music session
over the weekend.
According to Mr. Canty, groups will be heading to the
Hill of Tara from Belfast and Dublin, as well as from
other parts of the country.
A spokesman for the National Roads Authority said it was
"not going to do anything sudden" but was prepared to
"sit it out" until talks between gardaí and the
protesters concluded.
© The Irish Times, 15th. March 2007.
Related Articles:
M3 protester "has enough food to stay in tunnel for a
month".
Protester Squeak "fully prepared" to die if construction
resumes.
Fears grow for woman buried in M3 tunnel.
M3 build grinds to a Squeak.
M3 protester chains herself to tunnel in tense
stand-off.
