Man arrested in chaining protest

A man was arrested by gardai for chaining himself to a Wicklow County Council digger, preventing it carrying out work at the …

A man was arrested by gardai for chaining himself to a Wicklow County Council digger, preventing it carrying out work at the Glen of the Downs yesterday.

Mr Mike Hammond, who has been living in the Glen of the Downs for three years, locked himself on to a digger which was attempting to remove debris from the side of the road. He was cut free by gardai and taken to Greystones Garda station, where he was released later on station bail. He is to appear before Bray District Court on Friday.

In the meantime, 13 protesters continue to be held in Mountjoy and Cloverhill prisons for refusing to undertake not to interfere with work on the proposed dual carriageway through the Glen of the Downs. The Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal by the protesters tomorrow.

The campaign group Friends of the Irish Environment has written to the EU Environment Commissioner, Ms Margot Walstrom, to complain about the imprisonment of the 13 protesters.