24 February 2003

PRESS RELEASE

GREEN PARTY DELIGHTED WITH SUPREME COURT DECISION ON CARRICKMINES

The Green Party spokesperson for Environment and Local Government, Ciarán Cuffe TD, today welcomed the Supreme Court decision on the Carrickmines Castle Site.

The Court has granted an order temporarily restraining Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council from removing part of a medieval wall from lands at Carrickmines Castle, Co Dublin, along the route of the new south-eastern motorway.

"It is now up to the Council to prove that Carrickmines Castle is not a national monument. I hope that reason will prevail and that the Castle will be saved. It is still possible to modify the route of the road even at this late stage so that the Castle can be protected."

"I appeal to the Council to consider making changes to the road and junction layout at Carrickmines. This would be a more constructive use of their resources rather than concentrating on trying to prove that the Castle is not a national monument. I believe the archaeologists when they say that a medieval castle complex is a national monument and frankly, I have more confidence in the archaeologists' view on this than the Head of Transportation in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council."

"My complaint to the Garda last weekend about the activities of Dún Laoghaire Rathdown Council in dismantling the wall and fosse still stands. I am pleased that the Council have been told to cease dismantling the Castle walls."

ENDS