Three road protesters were ordered to jail by the High Court yesterday in the continuing controversy over Wicklow County Council's proposed dual carriageway scheme through the Glen of the Downs. Meanwhile, one of four men imprisoned two weeks ago for refusing to give an undertaking not to interfere with the roadworks, was freed yesterday after he gave the required undertaking.
Only one of the three ordered to be imprisoned yesterday - Diana Peuker (25), from near Berlin, Germany - was present in court. It was stated that Michael Hammond had returned to London, while the third, Rory Hayden, with an address at North Great George's Street, Dublin, had left the Glen.
Mr Justice McCracken said he had no alternative but to make an order committing the three to prison after he was told none of them was prepared to give an undertaking not to interfere with the roadworks at the Glen pending the hearing of an issue at a later date in relation to allegations of contempt against some of the protesters.
Peuker, who told the High Court on Wednesday that she had been at the Glen since last summer, was kissed and embraced by supporters in Court No 9 at the conclusion of the hearing against her before gardai took her into custody.
On February 18th, 13 road protesters were jailed by Mr Justice Barr for refusing to give undertakings not to interfere with the council's operations. Seven days later, nine of them were freed after returning to court and saying they would comply with the injunction.
The man freed yesterday was named as Mr Declan Morris, who said he had an address at the Glen of the Downs and Achill, Co Mayo, and previously in Tralee, Co Kerry. His case had been adjourned earlier when he requested an Irish translation of the undertaking. It was provided in the afternoon and he said he would abide by it.
Mr Justice McCracken was told there were continuing protests at the Glen despite previous court orders preventing interference with the council's work. Supt Philip Moynihan said that, at any one time, there were between 10 and 25 protesters present although yesterday morning there was only one protester at the site.
Mr James Connolly SC, for Wicklow County Council, read affidavits by council employees telling of various protests at the scene in recent weeks as contractors tried to remove felled trees.