M3 alternative route described as 'alarming'

An alternative route between Navan and Dunshaughlin, which an environmentalist has proposed as more suitable for the M3 than the route finally selected, was ruled out at an early stage because it was considered "archaeologically alarming" and would cut through unexcavated land in front of the Hill of Tara, the High Court heard yesterday.

Mary Carolan

An alternative route between Navan and Dunshaughlin, which an environmentalist has proposed as more suitable for the M3 than the route finally selected, was ruled out at an early stage because it was considered "archaeologically alarming" and would cut through unexcavated land in front of the Hill of Tara, the High Court heard yesterday.

The "blue" route eventually selected for the M3 was chosen after a long process of public consultation and a 28-day oral hearing in 2003 before An Bord Pleanala, Donal O'Donnell SC said. However, environmentalist Vincent Salafia was now "casually and cavalierly" asserting another "plainly unsuitable" route, the "orange" route, should be selected which would involve long delays, higher costs and was nowhere endorsed by Mr Salafia's own archaeological experts.

This proposal was disregarding days of painstaking consideration by the people of Co Meath, Mr O'Donnell said. Counsel was making submissions on behalf of the National Roads Authority (NRA) in the continuing hearing of a challenge by Mr Salafia to directions given by the Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, in July 2005 on the treatment of 38 archaeological sites discovered during "test-trenching" along the proposed blue route of the M3.

Mr Salafia, of Dodder Vale, Churchtown, Dublin, claims the directions were unlawfully issued because, he claims, the Minister failed to consider the issue of the sites being national monuments.

The case continues today before Mr Justice Thomas Smyth.