Dublin residents reach deal on Irish Rail bridge

A dispute between Iarnród Éireann and a group of Dublin residents over the building of a replacement railway bridge ended last night when the rail company signed a legally binding agreement with them.

Residents from the city’s North Strand had blocked construction of the East Wall road replacement railway bridge after failing to get legal assurances that a twenty one foot wall would be removed on completion of the project.

This agreement is a credit to all of the residents from the area who have protested solidly, 24 hours a day, for the last month Ms Frances O'Donoghue, spokeswoman for the North Strand Community Action Group

The North Strand Community Action Group (NSCAG) said: "If the wall had remained in place, many residential properties along Stoney Road, Leinster Avenue and Leinster Street East would be cast into permanent darkness."

The NSCAG signed the agreement with Iarnród Éireann’s Managing Director, Mr Joe Meagher following intense negotiations and mediation by Mr Joe Costello TD.

The agreement legally binds the company to remove the wall on completion of work. The wall stretches for a 100 metres and is constructed behind an existing seven foot high wall.

An independent arbitrator has also been appointed to handle claims for any damage and compensation.

As part of the agreement, residents have agreed to end their 24-hour blockade of the project site, which had entered its 28th day.

Iarnród Éireann spokesman Mr Barry Kenny told ireland.comthe company was delighted the situation had been resolved.

Mr Kenny said: "The company can now move ahead with the critical safety project while addressing the residents’ concerns."

A spokeswoman for NSCAG, Ms Frances O'Donoghue, said that residents are both elated and exhausted at the news that an agreement has been signed.

"During the last six months, we have been actively campaigning to secure this agreement so that daylight to our houses is maintained. This agreement is a credit to all of the residents from the area who have protested solidly, 24 hours a day, for the last month," she said.