Fears that Tara protest will
turn ugly
- as activists told to clear off
By - Unknown.
Protesters gathered at the Hill of Tara and the nearby
Rath Lugh fort have been warned they face eviction from
the area.
The protest groups - which are attempting to block
construction of the controversial M3 motorway planned to
run between the historic sites - have been served with
eviction notices.
They were told they had to vacate their camps by
today.
The Hill of Tara is owned by the Office of Public Works,
while rath Lugh belongs to the State-owned forestry
company, Coillte.
Protester Debbie Reilly said the activists are now
concerned that Gardaí or security guards could
"bombard" the area to force them out.
She said: "We're worried that now that the OPW and
Coillte have done their part, it leaves the door open for
force to be used. They usually get their paperwork right
before they leave it to the Gardaí and security to
enforce it".
But she defiantly stated: "The job of saving the Tara
Valley hasn't even started".
Rath Lugh was already the scene of clashes last Thursday.
Three people were arrested when protesters tried to stop
construction workers from erecting a permanent steel
fence between the fort and the proposed route that the
motorway will follow.
Miss Reilly has already warned that protesters were ready
to "lay their lives on the line" to stop the route's
construction.
Her comments come after Kerry woman Lisa "Squeak" Feeney
chained herself for three days in an underground tunnel
in a bid to stop work near Rath Lugh.
She abandoned her protest after reaching an agreement
under which the National Roads Authority agreed to halt
work near the fort until April 17th. But the agreement
quickly fell apart with both sides blaming the other.
© Irish Mail on Sunday, 23rd. March 2008.
