Residents pledge to fight plan for jail in Co Dublin

Residents living near the proposed new prison complex in Thornton in north Co Dublin, have vowed to fight the plan.

More than 300 people attended a highly charged public meeting last night at Coolquoy Lodge, including several local TDs and councillors and members of the family of Mr Richard Lynam, the farmer whose land is being bought by the Government for the proposed development between Ashbourne and Swords.

The new prison will be a replacement for Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, and a new Central Mental Hospital may also be built on the site.

Ms Bridget Jones, a sister of Mr Lynam and sister-in-law of Senator Joe O'Toole, said she and the rest of her family were "devastated" that a prison was coming to the area. "Every one of us adores the area. We are desperately upset. But I do see the point of my brother taking the money," she said. "There is nobody here who would turn it down."

Two male voices from the crowd replied: "I would."

Ms Jones added that Mr O'Toole had asked her to convey to the meeting the fact that he had spoken to the Minister for Justice and that when the prison was built it would be sheltered from public view by landscaping.

"If the prison is built," a member of the audience interrupted.

Ms Sandra Tallon, a niece of Mr Lynam, said the first her family heard about the decision was on Tuesday night. She had built a house on her uncle's land 17 months ago and "we are devastated" by the decision.

She added that nobody but Mr Lynam and his wife and two children were involved in the deal. "We did not receive one penny."

Mr Brian Lenihan, the Minister of State and a local TD, said he was "naturally very disappointed it's in my future constituency" of Dublin West. However, he said, as a member of the Government he did not have the leeway of being able to say he was opposed to the development.

He said he accepted there had been no consultation but normally the OPW carried out its acquisitions in a confidential manner. He said he would be meeting the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, today and would "voice the concerns that have been expressed at this meeting".

"This is a very settled community," he said, adding that in his view the local road system would not be capable of catering for the traffic created by the prison. However, he added, "It will be very difficult to stop this prison."

When heckled from the floor, the Minister replied "I am only giving my opinion."

"We know your opinion," an angry voice replied.

Local Labour councillor Tom Kelleher said there had been no contact with Fingal County Council about the decision. "This is not a fait accompli. This is a political decision," he said to loud applause.

There was standing room only in the large function room. The a.g.m. of the nearby St Margaret's GAA club, which had been scheduled for the same time, was cancelled to allow more people to attend. Residents agreed to form a steering committee to fight the proposed development, and a proposal was made to campaign against Fianna Fáil in the upcoming by-election on the issue.

Mr Tom Winters, who lives near the site, said: "A blind man on a galloping horse could see this is not a suitable site. It does defy logic." Other residents expressed concern about a possible influx of crime.

Fine Gael and patient support organisations have strongly criticised plans by the Government to transfer the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum to the north Dublin site. It would have a separate access and address from the prison.

Fine Gael's deputy health spokesman with responsibility for mental health, Mr Dan Neville, said last night he was "appalled" at the announcement.

"My concern relates to the stigmatisation of psychiatric illnesses. Historically, mental illness was criminalised by successive governments over the years." This was "a further criminalisation of mental illness".