Anti-road protester goes to earth

An anti-road protester, one of a remaining few still living at the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow, yesterday sealed himself into an underground chamber in protest at attempts by Duchas to remove protesters' tree-houses.

Mr Wozciech Jan Olszewski refused to leave the chamber while Duchas representatives and gardai were in the glen.

The standoff began yesterday morning when a Duchas crew and contractors arrived to dismantle tree-houses the protesters had built in the past three years, while opposing a £35 million road-widening scheme at the southern end of the glen.

Only four anti-roads protesters appeared to be in the camp yesterday, and one resident who gave his name as "Viper" said the numbers had fallen to two at night and sometimes just one during the day in recent weeks.

As news of the Duchas visit got out some protesters returned to show solidarity. A woman who gave her name as Maria, and who is relatively new to the camp, said they did not believe the treefelling was complete.

As the Duchas team set to work dismantling the 14 tree houses, Mr Olszewski sealed himself into an underground chamber which was protected above ground by a wooden fortification.

The crew dismantling the fort found it was reinforced with a variety of roads signs, some as large as 6ft by 4ft.

Mr Olszewski, talking to the press through a microphone lowered into his chamber, said he was not coming out. He remained there at least until tea-time last night. He was expected to leave the chamber last night, but camp members said he would likely be back this morning if, as expected, Duchas return to complete its clear-up.

The senior Duchas ranger in the area, Mr Anthony McEl heron, dismissed the underground protest. "These people have been building tree-houses and fortifications, protecting an area which is not going to be felled. The felling here is complete. It is over. There is no need for these people to be here any more," he said.

"If you look at the mess they are making in the name of conservation it is sickening."

Mr Sean Casey of Duchas said the protesters there yesterday were not those who had been there from the beginning. The camp members do not share a common responsibility, preferring instead to leave the campaign to be determined by individual actions.

Mr Dan Molloy, another camp member, said he was awaiting a court appearance in Bray District Court for exposing his buttocks as part of his protest.