Residents say work has begun on prison site

The local authority in north Co Dublin has been accused of pressing ahead with the construction of a new prison in the area without informing or consulting local residents.

The residents, who are campaigning against the construction of the €500m prison at Thornton Hall, claimed today that work had already gotten underway.

They said diggers moved onto the site for the prison last night and started knocking down 100-year-old trees.

Spokesperson Teresa McDonnell has demanded that the work be halted as it was still unclear whether the controversial prison project would ever be completed.