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Campaigners gather to protest M3 motorway route

Evening Echo 15/09/2007 - 3:14:32 PM

Hundreds of environmentalists took to Dublin's streets today, demanding a halt to construction of the controversial M3 motorway through the ancient Hill of Tara.

The peaceful march, the second since mid-July, left for Government Buildings from the Garden of Remembrance, calling on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to intervene and stop work on the multi-million euro road project.

It came as officials from the EU Parliament's Petitions Committee, which earlier in the year inspected works at the Co Meath site, issued a report condemning the routing of the M3 and the damage to the country's heritage.

"It was a very strong march," campaigner Vincent Salafia said.

"We're happy with how it went.

"I think it focuses attention on the Taoiseach and we're urging him to step forward and take a leadership role in this.

"We're not going away until there's some sort of resolution."

Protesters of all ages, carrying placards demanding Ireland's heritage be preserved and the road works stopped, marched to the Office of the Taoiseach at Government Buildings.

Also present was the Union of Students of Ireland (USI), which has added its voice to the campaign.

USI president Richard Morrisroe said: "Mr Ahern is being challenged to revise the route of the M3 because public support hangs on this."

The second Love Tara march came after An Bord Pleanala last month ruled that the M3 could be built over newly discovered 2,000-year-old ruins at Lismullen, about 2km from the Tara Hill.

It had been examining whether the discovery last April of the ancient ceremonial structure in the motorway's path would require a fresh planning application by developers.

The board said the find did not constitute a material alteration to the M3 scheme, which it had already approved in September 2003, and gave the project the green light.

But the EU's Petitions Committee has questioned the route of the motorway and asked why the state puts so much emphasis on roads and so little on rail.

A report is to be forwarded for discussion by the Commission, which sent a reasoned opinion to the Government earlier in the year highlighting the need for a second environmental impact assessment in light of the Lismullen find.

It is understood that Ireland's official response has been submitted to the Commission for its review.

Further protest events are being planned by campaigners, including a day of action at Tara on Monday and a demonstration by harpers at the Dáil next Saturday.