Environmentalists urge road probe

THE Flood Tribunal should investigate possible links between the enigmatic Jacksons Way development group and the controversy surrounding the C ring motorway in Dublin.

The motorway will destroy a large part of a medieval site at Carrickmines.

Environmental groups say the new motorway incorporates a link road to the Jacksons Way property which is adjacent to the medieval site and they want to ascertain how this came about.

Vincent Salafia of the Brehon Law Project said they were calling on the minister for justice and the attorney general to intervene in the crisis and ensure the Flood Tribunal examines the allegations of corruption associated with the Jackson Way development.

“We specifically want them to address the 1983 report released on Monday by Friends of the Irish Environment. This shows the National Roads Authority was reasonably put on notice of both the existence and significance of the site before recent excavations began,” said Mr Salafia.

David Healy of Friends of the Irish Environment said they are also calling on the Flood Tribunal to investigate how a link road is being built to the Jacksons Way property in the plans for the motorway.

The environmental groups said a legal challenge was still under consideration in a bid to prevent a large part of the medieval site being destroyed. They are hoping the EU will take up the challenge. Jacksons Way is already under investigation by the Flood inquiry amid reports PR man Frank Dunlop played a key role in lobbying councillors for the rezoning of the 106 acre site.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan said his plans would allow the final leg of the M50 motorway, which circles the city, to proceed on schedule, while preserving extensive areas of the Carrickmines Castle site.

However, campaigners pointed to the fact that the work remained unfinished when the dig ended in August to facilitate the building of the new road.

Ireland’s national trust body, An Taisce, described the proposals as “a huge disappointment”.