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M3 Works Close-in on Lismullin National Monument

category meath | history and heritage | news report author Wednesday September 12, 2007 19:23author by Helen Rose

An Emergency Situation is developing at the Lismullin Site where Construction Works to Divert the Gabhra River have Seriously Breached the 250m Exclusion Zone of the National Monument.

Heavy machinery and gravel lorries moved in to the Lismullin site this afternoon to begin works to divert the historic Gabhra River as part of the M3 Construction.
Observers were immediately concerned as machines began excavating well within the 250m exclusion zone around the Lismullin National Monument. There was no Archaeologist present as NRA Contractors made deep excavations & backfilled with truckloads of hardcore only 120m from the Lismullin Henge.
Activists entered the site and were able to stop work for most of the afternoon by occupying the diggers. Gardai were called to the site and activists were given a Caution not to interfere with works. However, two people re-entered the site and have stopped two of the machines by standing on them.

These incursions show a blatant disregard for the EU concerns currently being voiced about the legality of destroying a National Monument without a further Environmental Impact Assessment being made. The EU petitions Commitee is due to meet tomorrow (13th September), hopefully Lismullin will be high on the agenda.

Related Link: http://www.tarapixie.net

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84178

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