Eviction bid to start against Carrickmines protesters

Protesters who have spent the past five months occupying the ruins of Carrickmines Castle in Co Dublin could face eviction if a High Court rules they are trespassing.

Legal proceedings began last week to try to evict the group from the archaeological site of the castle to make way for the construction of the M50 motorway.

If Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council obtains a trespass order at the High Court tomorrow, any protesters on the site could face arrest for contempt of court.

The protesters – who call themselves the Carrickminders – last week marked their 150th day living in an abandoned farmhouse in the middle of the ruins.

Mr Justice Gilligan will hear the case against Vincent Salafia, Gordon Lucas and others who have been occupying the site.

The group has vowed to block all attempts to interfere with the archaeological remains and have been supported by conservationists, historians and local politicians.

Last week about 30 protesters stopped archaeologists’ attempts to remove part of a fosse (stone-lined ditch), which the council intends to preserve nearby.

The removal of the fosse would allow for work on the South Eastern Motorway to go ahead on the site.

Carrickmines consists of two large enclosures filled with objects of archaeological interest.

Although the remains of the castle itself have not been uncovered, the site’s key features include the castle gateway, a guard tower and the 12th century fosse.

Excavations have been taking place at the site for the past two years, during which time archaeologists have uncovered tens of thousands of artefacts including coins, pottery and the remains of settlements around the castle.

Opponents have argued that adjustments announced by the Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan will do little to preserve the site.

The roundabout feeding on to the motorway at Carrickmines is to be tilted to preserve certain archaeological features, with two medieval structures to be retained adjacent to the road.

The Green Party has called for a compromise over the route of the motorway, claiming that minor changes would safeguard the setting of the castle complex.

With work on the motorway already under way on either side of the Carrickmines site, council officials say any delays caused by the protesters would cost €50,000 - €100,000 euros a week.