Activists who oppose the construction of the M3 motorway near the world-renowned Hill of Tara today took their fight to the High Court.
Vincent Salafia, a member of the Save Tara Skryne Valley protest group, has requested leave for judicial review of the decision by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche to allow digging to proceed.
The papers lodged at the High Court challenge Mr Roche's decision to issue directions under the National Monuments Act 2004 for excavation and demolition of 38 archaeological sites within the Hill of Tara complex.
Mr Salafia said he wanted to stop excavation at the foot of the hill as soon as possible and vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court if the High Court ruled against them.
Campaigners seeking the protection of the site are disputing a 14 kilometre section of the planned 62 kilometre M3 motorway which is scheduled to run alongside the Hill of Tara.
Mr Salafia said they were not against the motorway but wanted to protect the archaeological monuments at the site. The group say the hill and the surrounding archaeological remains should be treated as a single integrated site. "We feel the monument extends beyond the state-owned property," Mr Salafia said today.
He said there was a viable alternative to the current route, which would not pass as close to the hill, and it was Mr Roche's "duty" as Minister for Heritage to protect the Tara complex.
PA