Roads protesters or any other persons who breach court orders preventing trespass and occupation of lands owned by Wicklow County Council at the Glen of the Downs could face jail, a High Court judge warned yesterday.
Mr Justice McCracken was dealing with an application by the council for orders for the attachment and committal of persons in breach of existing orders.
On October 15th last, Mr Justice Kinlen, granted an interlocutory injunction against a number of named persons, and anybody with notice of the order, to vacate lands which for two years have seen protests over tree-felling for a five-kilometre extension through the glen of the dual carriageway from Dublin. Mr Justice McCracken said the Supreme Court had found last year that the council had acted lawfully. Mr Justice Kinlen had made an order restraining interference with the works or trespassing, he said.
In dealing with anyone who did not comply with the injunction, Mr Justice McCracken said he had no choice but to make an order for their attachment. If the attitude of protesters did not change, there might be no alternative but to imprison them for contempt of court, he said.
Mr James Connolly SC, for the council, read affidavits from council employees which claimed gardai supervised work at the site.
One affidavit said workers had been "set upon" by protesters and that the campaign had caused extra costs to the council of about £15,000 a week.
A small group of protesters appeared in court without legal representation.
One of the protesters said the lands were Ireland's first nature reserve and should be respected.
Another said he would do his best to obey the orders but had no map of the council's lands. He was then handed a map by a council representative.
Mr Michael Casey said he was a journalist and independent film-maker who had no intention of stopping the road or obstructing the works. He said he was observing and recording the works. Mr Casey gave an undertaking on oath that he would not interfere with the council's works, and proceedings against him as a notice party were struck out.
The judge also struck out proceedings against Mr Barry Browne. He gave an undertaking after telling the court that he was a safety officer who observed the site to prevent injury. The case will come before the High Court again next Monday.