Stand with Teresa and fight the bullies

AS I write, a 65-year-old woman remains locked up in Mountjoy prison on an indeterminate sentence.

Her “crime”? To refuse ESB/Eirgrid access to construct a high-voltage power-line through the native woodland she has planted and nurtured on her and her sister's own land. Neither would she accept a €150,000 payment from Eirgrid to withdraw her objections, which normally works for less strongly principled land-owners.

So the State has obligingly locked her up to keep her out of the way while Eirgrid sends in the boys with the diggers. Bullies get their power through picking off their victims one by one; but if the whole schoolyard turns around in the victim’s defence the bully becomes compelled to find some other, more co-operative way to behave.

In a few years’ time I imagine there will be landowners up and down the country regretting how they allowed themselves to accept Eirgrid’s money while the high-voltage wires crackle close to their homes and their children become sick.

Is this the kind of future we are prepared to accept? Or have we the courage to stand with Teresa Treacy against the bullies and refuse to play their dirty little game?

Tony Adams

Lissarda

Co Cork