Fresh High Court Action Over Tara Ruins

A Limerick man has today launched a new high court action aimed at protecting the Lismullin national monument near the Hill of Tara, Co Meath.

Gordon Lucas is seeking to enforce EU environmental impact assessment directives and the European Convention on Human Rights. He wants an injunction and a declaration that the National Monuments Act 2004 is in breach of EU law.

The monument was discovered in the pathway of the M3 motorway and was declared one of the top 10 most important archaeological discoveries of last year.

According to campaign group TaraWatch, the case is being taken as a last resort, after the Irish Government has refused to concede to a legal action from the European Environment Commission to perform a new environmental impact assessment on the proposed demolition of the monument.

Vincent Salafia of TaraWatch said: “This is a parallel case to the case being taken against Ireland by the European Commission, which states the Irish Government is in breach of EU law.

“Work should cease immediately within the Tara archaeological complex, until this matter is resolved for once and for all."

Expert evidence will also argue that Lismullin is a central part of the archaeological complex associated with the Hill of Tara, which was placed on the 2008 List of 100 Most Endangered Sites by the World Monuments Fund.

Mr Salafia added: “It is ironic that the Irish Government is pushing its citizens to adopt the Lisbon Treaty, while they flatly refuse to obey current EU law with regards to protection of the environment and the national monument at Lismullin.

(VB)