Fears grow for woman buried in
M3 tunnel
By - Mary Regan.
CONCERN is growing for the safety of a 26-year-old woman
who has locked herself in an underground tunnel and is
threatening to collapse it if attempts are made to rescue
her.
Lisa Feeney is taking the dramatic form of protest at
Rath Lugh in Co. Meath, where a motorway connecting the
county with Dublin is being constructed.
Building was suspended yesterday amid fears that
machinery would collapse soil on top of Ms. Feeney and
into the tunnel that was dug by a group of about 20
protestors.
"Squeak", as she is known to her friends, has chained
herself to a car jack holding up the tunnel, meaning that
it will collapse on top of her and kill her if any
attempts are made to rescue her.
Supporter Debbie Reilly said: "Squeak is chained to a car
jack which is supporting the roof of the tunnel above her
head".
The area is ventilated by a wind-powered fan and
protesters claim Ms. Feeney has enough food and water to
sustain her for several weeks.
Campaigners want the M3 motorway rerouted around the Rath
Lugh monument - an ancient fort beside the 2,000-year-old
Hill of Tara.
But the National Roads Authority (NRA) claimed the
protesters may be damaging the protected area by digging
deep tunnels into the ground.
"The contractor is well within his right to take
responsibility for safety in the area and to request the
protesters to calmly leave", said spokesman Sean
O'Neill.
NRA officials brought in satellite technology to pinpoint
exactly where the lone protester is located.
Local independent councillor Philip Cantwell said more
attention should be paid to the woman's safety.
"There is a young woman down a tunnel and I have been
asking gardaí, where is there a doctor? I've been
told, no, there's two safety people there. The two safety
people walked away when I asked could I check their
qualifications".
He added: "Bearing in mind the first items in the rescue
of a young person would be a stretcher, breathing
equipment, oxygen and so on, there's no sign of that
here. I am seriously concerned how this young girl can be
protected in the event of a collapse of this tunnel. It
seems to me they're more intent on removal of the
protestors rather than the safety of the protestors. I'm
seriously concerned about this and the gardaí have
turned their back on me when I ask those questions".
Up to 30 protesters have been living on the site for
several months in six tents with wind-powered electricity
and shower facilities.
On Thursday Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp failed in its
bid to seek a High Court injunction to stop the works by
the NRA on the M3 in the vicinity of Rath Lugh.
© Irish Examiner, 15th. March 2008.
Related Articles:
M3 protester "has enough food to stay in tunnel for a
month".
Activists call on Minister to visit Tara.
Protester Squeak "fully prepared" to die if construction
resumes.
M3 build grinds to a Squeak.
M3 protester chains herself to tunnel in tense
stand-off.
