Five people arrested during a protest over an Esat mast in Achill, Co Mayo, yesterday were released after a few hours. The protesters were trying to prevent engineers from erecting a 50metre telecommunications mast at Keel Garda station.
They were freed following discussion between a local action group and Esat and Garda representatives.
The protest, which has lasted several weeks, came to a head yesterday at 6.30 a.m. as engineers tried to erect the mast. Protesters threw themselves to the ground and onto the equipment, making it impossible for work to commence. Up to 60 gardai moved in and arrested five local people under the Public Order Act. Later gardai formed a human chain around the station to keep protesters out.
An agreement was reached between gardai and the protest group that the five people arrested would be released without charge on condition that they pursued their objection to the mast using the relevant legal structures.
The mast was eventually erected in half an hour, and gardai maintained a strong presence to prevent interference. A spokeswoman for the group, Ms Martina Calvey, said the issue would now be pursued through the courts.