TRAVELLERS who allegedly were preventing work on the Dublin Northern Cross motorway system were given 48 hours to vacate a site at Belcamp College by the High Court yesterday. One traveller told the court they were willing to leave but had no place to go.
Mr Dermot Flanagan, counsel for Fingal Co Council, in reply to Mr Justice Costello, President of the High Court, said this was in a Dublin Corporation area and his clients were in possession only of land designated for the motorway.
Mr Flanagan said the travellers, who had occupied the site for the last couple of months, had represented to the county council they would move prior to earth moving works taking place.
The council decided on a "softly softly" approach but matters came to a head when contractors attempted to go on to the site on June 4th last.
The large earth moving equipment was unable to enter due to the travellers', their caravans and children and the danger to life and limb.
Mr Justice Costello asked if there was any place available for the travellers and had there been any contact by Dublin Corporation. Told there was a Mr Sean Moran in the corporation, the judge asked if this man would go and talk to them.
The judge made an order restraining the travellers or anyone with knowledge of the order trespassing on the lands at Belcamp Lane, Co Dublin.
He said the courts were not able to produce sites and he had no alternative but to make the order. He would grant a 48 hour stay to allow the travellers to make other arrangements. He hoped Mr Moran would help.
The new Northern Cross route extends from Castleknock to Swords and Mr Flanagan said construction work costing £2.4 million was being delayed by the travellers.