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Tara protester emerges from tunnel
A female protester who barricaded herself inside a tunnel more than a week ago in protest of the M3 motorway route was today recovering from her experience.
Campaigners against the road scheme in Co Meath fear it will destroy the Rath Lugh national monument - an ancient fort beside the 2,000-year-old Hill of Tara.
Last week psychology graduate Lisa Feeney shut herself inside a chamber built at the bottom of a 33-foot tunnel in protest at the scheme.
But following an agreement between the National Roads Authority (NRA) and protesters that no construction work would take place for a month, she emerged late last night.
The NRA said it was pleased the matter had been resolved.
Campaigners want the M3 motorway rerouted away from the Rath Lugh monument and supporters said Ms Feeney had enough provisions to allow her stay in the tunnel for up to two months, including books, a saxophone and a fan.
But the NRA claimed the protesters could have been damaging the protected area by digging deep tunnels into the ground.
Ms Feeney's father spent most of yesterday trying to talk her out of the tunnel and she eventually emerged shortly after 10pm when the NRA agreed to the conditions.
The campaigners hope that by the time construction is due to go ahead again in mid-April they will have successfully appealed a recent High Court decision to let work continue.
They have also vowed to continue their campaign to ensure the ancient sites around the Hill of Tara are protected from the motorway works.
An NRA spokesman said: "We're very pleased the issue is resolved and we're very grateful for the assistance from all parties involved."
Up to 30 protesters have been living on the site for several months in six tents with wind-powered electricity and shower facilities.
PA
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