Residents of a housing estate have locked the gates of Limerick's Thomond Rugby Football Club following a row over a mobile phone mast.The residents have expressed fears over the effects of possible radiation from the 18-metre-high mast inside the club's grounds.
People living in Pineview Gardens and Delmege Park in Moyross took the decision to padlock the gates following a protest outside the grounds.
The residents' move is expected to force a showdown with club officials tonight with an under-20s club fixture due to take place at the grounds.
A spokesman for the club said the residents had taken the law into their own hands by their "aggressive" action but added the match would definitely go ahead tonight as planned.
A club spokesman said plans to erect the mast were approved by An Bord Pleanála after planning permission was initially refused by Limerick County Council.
"Surveys show that any emissions from the mast will be way below safe levels," added the spokesman.
A Moyross resident, Mr Derek O'Brien, said he was initially under the impression that the club was erecting new floodlights at the Ballygrennan pitch.
"This mast was erected without our consultation and no one from the club or the mobile phone company is prepared to talk to us at the moment. Nobody really knows what level of radiation will be emitted from this mast and we want it removed," he said.