Phone mast protest hits traffic

More than 350 protesters caused traffic disruption on the main N7 route when the Better Environmental and Safer Telecommunications…

More than 350 protesters caused traffic disruption on the main N7 route when the Better Environmental and Safer Telecommunications (Best) group held a rally at Toomevara, Co Tipperary, on Saturday afternoon.

Groups opposed to the erection of telephone masts from cos Limerick, Galway, Clare, Cork, Tipperary, Wexford and Kerry attended the event which was also supported by Rossport Five protester Mícheál Ó Seighin.

Cahir-based Best organiser John Cummins said the group decided to organise the protest on the main Limerick-Dublin road to highlight their plight.

"We chose Toomevara because it is on the main N7 road and we feel we need our message to be heard throughout the country.

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"We decided not to take our protest to Leinster House because we would not get the same exposure," said Mr Cummins.

The protest began with the group marching along the N7 from St Michael's GAA grounds on the outskirts of Toomevara to the centre of the village where Mr Cummins addressed the protesters.

"Best wants to highlight the very serious concerns regarding phone masts that are in place or being erected in communities nationwide.

"We want to send a very strong message to our Government that we are totally dissatisfied with the way mobile phone transmitters are being rolled out in communities nationwide without any consideration for the people of these communities," he said.