Glen protesters prepare for next confrontation

Environmentalists protesting at the felling of trees for a road-widening scheme at the Glen of the Downs in Co Wicklow decorated tree stumps with vigil candles yesterday and claimed success in Wednesday morning's stand-off with council operatives.

While the campaigners were upset at the number of trees the council was able to cut down, they claimed their action in climbing the trees and standing in front of chainsaws was "clearly effective".

At the campsite yesterday, a group of about 30 protesters was busy making preparations for their next confrontation with the council.

They said they would continue to occupy the trees in spite of Wednesday's High Court order forbidding trespass in the woods.

"There are new faces all the time - the word has gone out nationwide," said Mr Jeff Colhoun. "The general feeling is very positive. We have seen that even a few people can be effective against the Dayglo uniforms of. . .Wicklow County Council.

"These were not people who are trained for the high altitude removal of people from trees and it is unlikely that the council can get insurance for that. It is expensive for them to get legitimate insurance. We might beat them yet on a cost basis," he quipped.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that ceramic pegs have been inserted in some of the trees to be felled, to discourage sawmills from buying the timber. Although people at the camp were preparing cement-filled "lock-ins" yesterday, Mr Colhoun insisted that none of his group was responsible for the pegs.

Mr Colhoun said a full court hearing is scheduled for next Wednesday and his group is hopeful of convincing the court that "due process has not been served and European habitat directives have not been adhered to".

Mr Bryan Doyle, secretary of Wicklow County Council, said the council had "played everything by the book".

Mr Doyle added that, following Wednesday's action, "people can now see that it is largely scrub on the old roadway that we are clearing. We have the support of local environmentalists and we are happy that the matter is going to court".