Sir, - Your report "Members of council to talk to tree protesters" (The Irish Times, January 11th) contains disgraceful comments about the Glen of the Downs environmental protesters that cannot be let pass unchallenged.
Wicklow council chairman George Jones is quoted as saying that more damage had now been done by the protesters than would be done by the road-widening and that people had been intimidated by the protesters. Dick Roche TD is quoted as accusing them of "wilful destruction of a beauty spot".
These statements are completely false, judging by our family visit to the glen shortly after Christmas. We got a friendly greeting from the protesters as we passed their camp and an offer of a cup of tea when we stopped to commiserate on their latest legal setback and to offer to take away a bag of rubbish for them. (They had none at the time.)
We would bet that the wood itself is cleaner than any State or council woodland within 50 miles of Dublin. In an hour's walk we saw one piece of litter, a child's sweet-wrapper. It stuck out so much in an otherwise pristine wood that we were compelled to pick it up.
Anyone who doubts about the above should take an hour to visit and see the wood - before George Jones, Dick Roche and the rest of the "cars at any cost" movement destroy it. - Yours, etc.,
Jessica Classon, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin.