Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp Evicted
international |
environment |
news report 
Thursday April 17, 2008 14:08
by TaraTaraTara
Eyewitness account of todays events at Rath Lugh
Shortly before 1 o clock today there was a peaceful eviction of the Rath Lugh Camp. Four Protectors who were on site were told by Gardai that they had to be out by 1 o clock and to gather up their belongings and leave. This was not done in an aggressive manner and was complied with by the Protectors.
Once they had left the woods no one was allowed back in. There were 20 Gardai, 3 Garda Cars plus 2 Vans as well as about a dozen Construction Workers at the entrance to the woods as this was happening. A steel fence has now been erected separating the Rath from the public road. A mini digger is busy creating a path and a low loader is in situ.
In a sinister twist after the eviction, a female Protector was taking photographs from her car when she was approached by a man with an MD SECURITY yellow vest on and wearing a Balaclava! This was about 200mt from Gardai. He was harassing her about taking photographs even though she was perfectly entitled to do so and parked on a public road. Amazingly when she made a complaint to a Garda he denied that there were any men in balaclavas in the vicinity. Just as he said that, 2 Security men ran past them, both wearing balaclavas! The Garda refused to do anything about this and threatened to arrest her under the Housing and Miscellaneous Act!!!
Mark Cleary has just appeared with his camera.
There will be a video of this incident and the eviction issued shortly.
Comments (36 of 36)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36Our Eyewitness has just reported that a huge truck is dumping massive boulders into the Gabhra River and is just 15mt away from the Sousterrain beside the proposed slip road. This Sousterrain is marked SMR21 on ACS location maps.
Protectors are complaining that they are being prevented from assisting with the clean up. They wish to leave no debris behind and have been busy over the last few days filling a large skip with items from the camp and taking down dwellings. They provided the skip themselves via a donation and have clearly shown their willingness to comply with the Eviction Order and leave the site at Rath Lugh.
However, one Protector remains up in a Tree House refusing to come down. Siac Workers and Security are trying to haul him down with a large hook risking injury or worse to him. Where are the Health and Safety Laws now? By the way, this land belongs to Coillte, not Siac.
" There are so many out there in computer land supporting us but where are the supporters Here? " asked a concerned Camp member.
There will be many twist and turns before the end of the M3 Saga.
what can you say!
None of this is a surprise. I guess it was only a matter of time - given the overall apathy, callousness and enmity for the whole valley from the beginnning, from Ferrovial/SIAC, the gardai, politicians, many Irish citizens, etc.
But it's still shocking - the total disregard for law,displayed by the gardai, the demonization (Terrorists? Give me a break.) of those who are mearly trying to protect and preserve Irish heritage. It's as if common people have no basic human rights anymore: and it's not just an Irish situation, it's happening worldwide. It is no coincidence that the ancient, powerful landmarks of our history are being willfully destroyed at the same time our rights are being erased. A People without a history is like the wind on the buffalo grass. The power brokers know this and act accordingly to enlave all.
It's a terrible shame, and bodes unwell for the future, both in Ireland and globally.
If this is the hand of progress, we are all doomed.
As gut-shot celt says it looks grim, and awaiting the kids, if Gabhra's treatment is the sign of their future as corporate models of life emerge more and more, wih full state implementation and becoming as brutal as former Imperial occupiers.
Shell to Sea and Gahra / M.3 underline corporate intentions. Absolutely ruthless.
Motorway infrastructure feeding the "out-of-town" retail and choc-a-bloc city congestion (currently costing London's commuters £8 per day "congestion charge")
Another corporate conquerer, Tesco, will help wreck the high street too because for it, "every little helps" its gargantuan profits standing aloof from any credit crunch.
Multi-colourful, culture-rich Urban Ireland be warned!
This is absolutely disgraceful what is happening to Rath Lugh. It is shameful and embarrassing that our government are so corrupt. These people are brining shame and dishonour to our country. A country that our forefathers died for. What it worth it?
[Photo to remind us of what we are talking about]
Another update - the protector is still in the tree house and they are trying to knock him down.
The camp has been completely thrashed and when some people tried to retrieve their belongings they were told that they would be arrested if they entered the woods.
The mood of construction workers and operators is very threatening, bags of belongings being cut with stanley knives etc.
There is no one to document what is going on.
There is a digger destroying the round house apparently ...
They were told that no one is allowed into the wood any more.
They are not allowed to clean up - which was the intention over the next number of days.
What is really worrying is that one well known operator flashed some documents at the protestors and said that SIAC had just bought the whole wood from Coillte.
If this is true .... words fail me.
All authorities need to be contacted to have this confirmed/denied.
We, the people, no longer have sovereignty in our own state. We are dictated to by unelected quangos and bully boys like Coillte whose previous involvement in environmental disasters has been well covered here already.
Without access to the wood/Rath Lugh and the huge fence on the road take there is no way to monitor what the NRA/SIAC/Ferrovial is up to.
This is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport - Noel Dempsey
Rath Lugh from the sky
Lisa will give a full update tomorrow at World Heritage Day Forum - Trinity College Dublin - Fri 18 April
Swift Theatre - 4:00 - 6:00 pm - Admission free
After a peacefull exit from Rath Lugh direct action camp at 1pm today things took a bizzare turn .
I had spoken only moments earlier to Superintendent De Vine from Navan regarding assaults being made on protectors by SIAC workers and private security wearing M.D security jackets and balaclavas. He assured me all complaints would be investigated fully and impartially...
I secured the camp generater and left the area .Pulling in a few hundred meters down the road to make a call.
Moments later,imagine my surprise.
An M.D Security bullie in a balaclava is banging on my car door and trying the handle.
Will upload video later this evening
Bullie in ballie
bystanders
busy boys
fence line
Was it for this the wild geese spread
The grey wing upon every tide;
For this that all that blood was shed,
For this Edward Fitzgerald died,
And Robert Emmet and Wolfe Tone,
All that delirium of the brave?
Romantic Ireland's dead and gone,
It's with O'Leary in the grave.
You were just leaving as I was arriving, glad you're safe and the bullies didn't get to you. There was no sign of the balaclavas by the time I started snapping.
After scanning the crowd of uniforms and hi-viz jackets for a remotely friendly face I manage to speak to a lovely garda (ty for trying Brian) who agreed to accompany me into the woods to bring some food, water and to return a phone I'd been charging for one of the lads in the trees.We were half way through when I spotted a crowd of more senior gardaí approaching us from the left side. I kept walking until I heard the roars of "WHAT THE HELL IS SHE DOING IN HERE???" I was quized as to who I was, where I was from and how long had I been a part of "all this". I was then promptly escorted back to the roadway.
It looks like the entrance to the woods is now the new site entrance for all heavy machinery as they were widening the old trail up to the roundhouse.I almost had to pull the car over on the way home my stomach was so sick. What I saw today truly beggars belief.
well behaved animals???
This is the man who insisted I be removed
"Without access to the wood/Rath Lugh and the huge fence on the road take there is no way to monitor what the NRA/SIAC/Ferrovial is up to.
This is the responsibility of the Minister for Transport - Noel Dempsey"
More activity OUTSIDE roadtake ?
Fencing off of nation monument and Lismullen woods soutteraine under threat.
Fence poles arriving
Lismullen, Rath lugh this afternoon
souteraine Lismullen woods, outside roadtake ?
small entrance
big interior
YES Mars that Garda was rather inpolite,I was shocked!
Also I was threatened with arrest when I tried to make a complaint regarding the balaclava incident.
Sickening indeed.
I see your tunneling skills have improved!
The bully boy tactics are nothing new, unfortunately, but we can expect more and more of this as time progresses. There were garda helicopters over Rossport yesterday escorting Shell reps, and no-one is available to explain their activities. Corporate interests are being married to so-called State interests, and they are using all means to quell dissent.
We know how hard it is to do, but keep up the peaceful resistance in any way you can. The troubles in Mayo are just an extension of the disrespect for people, history and place that is happening in Meath, and our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
That last picture is the same guard whose ugly mug was seen at the bellanaboy protest in mayo!!
The latest document on the Dept of the Environment site regarding the Golder report/ crib walling proposal at Rath Lugh:
http://www.environ.ie/en/Heritage/Archaeology-NationalM...n.pdf
Garda in pic by Mars is the super from Navan Mr.De vine we had a chat and he seemed to be willing to investigate complaints.It was another Garda who threatened to arrest me for making trying to make a complaint
Also I doubt he has been in Bellenaboy.
Ochon! Ochon! Ochon! Ochon! Glaoionn mo chraoi 'Ochon, Ochon!' Glaoionn mo nanamm 'Ochon! Ochon!' Glaoionn mo blood 'Ochon! Ochon' ocus Glaoionn mo bones 'Ochon! Ochon!' Ochon! Ochon! Ochon! Ochon! Temair go bragh, Gabhra go siorai, Rath Lugh abu, to God be glory. May those-who've-done-the-day's-destroying's eyes be cleared to see by morning what they've reared by their abhorring of the ancients and their stories, all for 30 silver scraps and 15 breaths of tarnished glory. great their shame, great our mourning. Dia linn! Ochon!
This is an atrocity and a crime against humanity.
We cant thank MadameK and Mars enough for being there to bring photographs to us. Send them all across the world to all of your contacts and when the video comes on- send that too!
What is the legality of fenceing off a NATIONAL Monument from the public? Who will monitor what these destroyers are doing? Not the NRA, SIAC or the Government, they are all in collusion with the money boys.
SOLIDARITY WITH ROSSPORT xxx
About a month ago, JP and Deb went into Dublin to check the exact status of Rath Lugh ownership, and to see the exact measurement for the monument, placement of the proposed retaining wall, survey discrepencies, etc. When they got there, the documents were not available, because it was in the process of being sold/purchased. I understood from JP that this was standard procedure - all land documents are available, unless there is a sale in the works, in which case they are in some other office being amended until the sale is final.
Given this fact, we were pretty sure that Rath Lugh was being bought by Meath county council, SIAC, or somebody else involved.
Once again, if SIAC did purchase the land, it isn't a surprise. But it is still shocking that it actually happened.
AND, I am sure Gormley and every other politician involved knew of the pending purchase, which makes all of their "preservation" rhetoric total crap. They knew all along what was happening, and just figured (rightly) that if they keep feeding the people lies, debunking the facts, etc. that they would get away with anything they wanted.
Curruption rules.
Radio na Gaeltachta did a piece on Rath Lugh today, before they went on air they rang both SIAC and Coillte.
Both have denied that any land has changed hands.
Separately, Finian Matthews from the DOE mailed me back saying the same thing - that there has been no land purchase at all.
He had it confirmed from Coillte that they did not sell any of their land to SIAC.
That's what I have been told - just to keep everyone in the loop.
Maps could not be obtained at the Land Registry because they had been taken down from the computer system, something that happens during the sale process, towards the end.
Sounds like Somebody bought it to me.....wouldnt be surprising anyway if that turns out to be the case.
We talked to Coilte some months ago enquiring if they would consider selling Rath Lugh to us.
We have heard nothing since.
We understood that an additional strip was being acquired by the NRA beyond the original but this is unconfirmed. Perhaps this is why the maps were unavailable
Solas
Terry
http://www.sacredireland.org
Yet could we turn the years again
and call those exiles as they were
in all their loneliness and pain
you'd cry: 'Some woman's yellow hair
has maddened every mother's son';
they weighed so lightly what they gave
but let them be, they're dead and gone
they're with O'Leary in the grave!
This is an utter abomination , an outrage; remember the words of a Jamaican visionary, Marcus Garvey: 'A people without
knowledge of their past, history, origin and culture is like a tree without its roots!' This is a clear attempt, to destroy
all vestiges of the past, history, heritage, evolution of our nation. But don't be naive - it's not only a corporate-driven agenda, but everyone must realise, it's part of a drive to a new world order, of which the EU neo-imperialist entity, is a part.
What is truly disheartning about Irish Culture and the fact that both the Irish language and it's history, are mostly ignored by the idigenous people of this nation.
The Welsh though still under English domination, cling fiercly to their language, with true national pride.
The Manx language is now taught in schools, it is even become a point of pride with the Cornish and the Scots to speak their own languages.
In Ireland you all learn your language in school, but it seems that all interest and pride, fades rapidly away outside of the schoolgate.
So how can you expect your politicians to show any respect for History ancient or modern, when it is not portayed in your language?
Has the government given any absolute reason why the road has to be built where it is? Rather, have they given any reason why the proposed development could not be shifted?
The only culture your likely to encounter in this country is imported American mall culture. When one sees the way most families in ireland spend their free time/sundays etc. is it any wonder why so many zombie movies are based in shopping malls.
http://www.livevideo.com/video/C10FDECDF4C444F1B2503478....aspx
Met up with the ballie boy in the photo yesterday and such beautiful features he has unmasked..
He expressed how unhappy he was that his photo was on the net .I told him to chill as i didnt think anyone would recognise him!
He insisted that he thought ,as i had stopped on the side of the road, i may be lost .His only objective was to render his assistance to me ,how gallant.
Press Release 25/04/2008
Embargo Monday 27th April 00.01am
“Rath Lugh Pixies coming to a 21st Century Circular Enclosure near you...”
After the illegal and brutal eviction of the Rath Lugh Direct Action Camp, the Rath lugh Pixies have decided to hit the road in search of the promised land “Rath Nua”, with its green pastures and circular enclosures.
Their quest continues to stop the illegal desecration of the Sacred Gabhra Valley, through Non-Violent Direct action and educating the people of Ireland of the sustainable solutions still achievable such as the The Meath Master Plan, the choice the government never gave the people.
There will be a Mass Action in opposition to the illegal M3 Toll-Road on Monday 27th April 8am. All are welcome (except Mark Cleary).
Details of locations to follow later...
Contact: Rath Lugh Pixies 00353 (0) 861537146
or Derek (spokesperson). 00353 (0) 868459279
www.tarapixie.net
www.savetara.com
Now that this guy has admitted it was him in the balaclava can he be made to account as to WHY he was wearing it ? Who is he employed by ?
I was just looking at the pictures above. When I saw the one of Lismullin it was like a knife in the heart. To think this was once an Astronomical Observatory.....probably the oldest in the Western World.
They could have rebuilt this. They could have ran their road away from it. To them it could have been a source of Tourist Revenue, to us a link and a memorial to the marvels of the past. Anything would have been better than running a Motorway right through it and destroying forever what we will never have again.
I am gut wrenched, perplexed.
Observed Shell refueling Howelys on behalf of SIAC today...
SIAC and Shell working hand in hand at Tara and Rossport.
SIAC employing the security at both sites ? The last day of action at Bellanaboy saw many casualties of the private security while the Garda stood by ...again.
Link to photographs here:
Rath Lugh, Lismullin but most sickening: Baronstown.
Photo of what it looked like a year ago, nearly to the day.
http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u167/muireanntemair/...2008/
Baronstown 24 04 07
At Rath Lugh
Coillte Notice
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