Two men will apply to the High Court next Monday for an order restraining Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council from removing 10 metres of an ancient castle fosse (a walled ditch) from the line of the South Eastern Motorway.
Mr Dominick Dunne, of Collins Square, Dublin, and Mr Gordon Lucas, of Willbrook Lawn, Rathfarnham, Co Dublin, were yesterday granted leave from the President of the High Court, Mr Justice Finnegan, to notify the council of their intended application for an interlocutory injunction.
Mr Colm MacEochaidh, for the applicants, said they were seeking permission to have the matter heard by the court today as they were concerned that the ditch might be removed.
However, the judge said it would be dealt with next Monday.
Last Monday the council secured an interlocutory order restraining anyone with notice of the order from trespassing on council land at Carrickmines Castle, Co Dublin, which is included in lands acquired for the motorway.
The property contains 10 metres of an ancient castle fosse which the council wants to move to another site because it is on the line of the motorway. The council claimed to have already spent over €6 million on archaeological excavations and said it could not afford disruptions by protesters at the castle site. The estimated cost of the motorway is €144 million.
Mr Justice Finnegan said he would give permission to the applicants to notify the council by fax and later serve the council with documents.