A Co Wexford man whose land is the proposed site for a controversial quarry has received a menacing letter from a P O'Neill - a name used in statements from the Provisional IRA.
Hudson Concrete Ltd is seeking planning permission from Wexford County Council for a rock quarry on a 42-acre site at Ballythomas Hill near Gorey. The land is owned by John Stanley. However, the company has agreed to buy it if their planning application is successful.
Local residents campaigning against the quarry have made numerous objections to the county council.
Mr Stanley has received a warning letter purporting to be from the IRA. The letter is a one-page note with the words "Warning" and "Public Enemy No 1" cut from newspapers, pasted on it.
The name "O'Neill P" is printed on the end of the page. Gardaí are investigating the matter but declined to say whether they believe the threat to be serious.
Local Sinn Féin councillor Jim Fleming said Sinn Féin or the IRA are not connected to the threat.
"I am against the quarry but I have nothing against the landlord. Sinn Féin or the IRA have nothing to do with this."
Mr Fleming said he believes the letter was sent by someone wishing to discredit Sinn Féin and the anti-quarry campaign.
"This is someone trying to dirty Sinn Féin. Someone is trying to frighten this man and it is totally wrong."
Fianna Fáil councillor Malcolm Byrne, who is also opposed to the site of the quarry said the threat was "totally unacceptable.
"The family selling the land are genuine and hardworking people and like everyone should, they will accept the outcome of the planning process," Mr Byrne said.
Diarmuid Houston, the planner dealing with the case, recommended a refusal of permission on three grounds - that the entrance was unacceptable, the access route was not in the developer's control, and the roads in the area were inadequate.
The council's director of services Tony Larkin decided not to accept the recommendation and is allowing the company until October to modify its application.
The company has been allowed access to the planning reports to formulate its revised application.
The Ballythomas Action Group, which claims to represent 354 local objectors, argues the council has breached planning laws by making the reports available before the final decision is made.
However, Mr Larkin said yesterday that this is a standard practice and the council is entitled to make the planning reports available to the company.