[Stones] Forwarded Tara Articles

[Tim P]

from Indymedia:

Gardai endanger life
9:40, Thursday 13-3-08
Reports just received from Rath Lugh say that the Gardai (30) and Toll
road workers (60) are attacking the Protectors of Tara. They have cut
off the life support system to the tunnel knowing that there is a woman
deep below ground. Her name is Squeak. The front line camp is being
dismantled using bolt croppers - this is exposing the tunnel entrance.
Machinery has appeared and numerous toll road jeeps swarm around the
edge of Rath Lugh. This outrageous act by the Gardai endangers the life
of Squeak - the Gardai know this. We have previous examples of Garda
incompetence in situations beyond their control that went wrong due to
their stupidity - are we to see another example of their incompetence?
This is timed to occur just before an Emergency Injunction is being
sought to halt all works at Rath Lugh 10.30 in the Four Courts Dublin.
The boundary to the National Monument of Rath Lugh seems to be about to
be set by SIAC/Ferrovial toll road building crews and not by Irish Law
or the Minister.
Who is in command of this stupid plan? Did the Minister sanction this
attack on the peaceful Protectors of Tara? Is this the fullest
expression of Operation Bedrock?

All works on or near Rath Lugh must be stopped immediately until the
life of Squeak is secured and a proper survey has been done and boundary
lines clearly defined.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Statement - Update on Rath Lugh -
As a High Court injunction is being heard in Dublin - contractors with
the help of the Gardai are evicting the protersters at Rath Lugh.
The hearing has been adjourned until the afternoon to hear the other
side of the case.
The front line camp is completely dismantled. Described by protester as
"like a war zone" and "chilling".
Local councillor Phillip Cantwell described the actions as
"unbelievable". His pleas to leave the protestor in the tunnel are not
being listened to. He has called for the contractor to produce his
Method Statement. No such method statement has been produced.
The Fire Brigade is on site.
There are approximately 30 Gardai with no numbers shown. They will not
say who they are.
The media is also present.
There is a girl in the tunnel, no attention is being paid to her safety.
One protester arrested and taken to Navan garda station. There was a 40
ton dump truck in the vicinity and 2 diggers near the tunnel.
The Fire Brigade is there - there are about 30 jeeps.
Four protestors have locked on 10 feet from the entrance to the tunnel,
their arms are cemented.
There is noone trained in Ireland to safely remove the protestor from
the tunnel.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86665
////////////////////////////////////////
NRA denies undermining Rath Lugh monument

http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/nra-denies-undermining-rat\ 

h-lugh-monument-1315465.html

Thursday March 13 2008

The National Roads Authority is insisting that construction work on the
controversial M3 motorway in Co Meath is not damaging a protected
national monument at Rath Lugh.

Campaigners against the road claim the work is undermining the ancient
fort around 2.5kms from the Hill of Tara.

A protestor has chained herself inside a tunnel dug into the hill in an
effort to prevent the work from going ahead.

The Gardai are currently monitoring the situation.

The NRA, meanwhile, says the construction work is not encroaching on
the footprint of Rath Lugh and is necessary in order to install a wall
that will protect the monument
...................................................................
Tara M3 protestor trapped in tunnel

http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0313/tara.html

Thursday, 13 March 2008 12:02

A woman who is demonstrating against the M3 roadworks is trapped in a
tunnel that protestors dug at Rath Lugh.

Supporters claim the woman is chained by the neck to a jack and any
attempts to try and remove her will cause the tunnel to collapse.

At the scene fences have been erected to prevent any further incursion
by the protestors.

Around 40 construction workers together with about ten gardaí remain at
the scene.

Following negotiations between the protestors and the fire chief, it
has been agreed that no attempt will be made to try and remove the
woman from the tunnel.

The tense stand off at the scene is continuing and is likely to do so
for some hours.

A number of other protestors have chained themselves to overground
obstacles at the scene.

Meanwhile, the group protesting against the construction of the M3
motorway has asked the High Court for an injunction to stop all work at
the Rath Lugh area of the road.

Peadar Ó Ceallaigh told Ms Justice Mary Lafoy at the High Court that
diggers were using the area as a short cut because they had not been
able to get licences to drive over the roads.

He said the tunnel and the monument were in danger of collapse.

The case will be back before the court at 2pm.

///////////////////////////////////////
Update Rath Lugh
      Date: Thu Mar 13, 2008 6:53 am ((PDT))

 From the protest site: things have calmed down. The Fire Brigade are
well gone, will not make any attempt to remove the girl from the tunnel.
A tent will be erected at the entrance so that one other protester can
communicate with her.
No effort was or will be made to remove her.
There are still 5 other people locked on with cement.
There is a small digger and steam roller as well as 18 jeeps at the site.
Nothing is driving on the esker.
They are tripping over media and cameras!
There are flood lights being brought in.
Court case being heard again at 2pm.
/////////////////////////////////////////
Irish Times - Breaking News: Protester trapped in M3 tunnel

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/0313/breaking40.htm

A demonstrator against the M3 motorway is reported to be trapped in a
tunnel at the Rath Lugh promontory fort near Tara.

Protesters claim the woman is locked to a jack which is supporting the
structure and any attempt to move her could result in the tunnel
collapsing.

The tunnel has been dug into a hillside to try and stop construction of
the M3 motorway. Construction work will collapse the tunnels and risks
killing the protesters inside, they say.

This morning around 30 gardaí are reported to have come on site in an
attempt to evict the protesters.

A garda spokeswoman said they are on site and monitoring the situation.
One woman in her mid-30s has been arrested and taken to Navan garda
station she added.