A steel trapdoor set in concrete has been discovered by Wicklow County Council officials on lands acquired by the council to build the controversial dual carriageway through the Glen of the Downs, the High Court heard yesterday.
The council fears the trapdoor may conceal a tunnel and that its construction is ultimately intended by protesters to obstruct and delay the 5 km road scheme, the court was told.
Mr James Connolly SC, for the council, said the trapdoor was locked and the council could not say where it led. The council was seeking a court order to restrain anyone from impeding its officials from gaining access to the trapdoor.
Mr Justice Kinlen granted a temporary injunction to the council preventing trespass on the lands by a number of so-called eco-warriors.
The judge was told that the persons now trespassing were not those involved in previous High Court proceedings over the road plan.
Earlier this year the High Court approved the road scheme and rejected proceedings taken by environmentalists against it. An appeal against one aspect of that decision is to come before the Supreme Court next week.
It relates to the appropriateness of changing the Glen of the Downs status as a nature reserve within the meaning of the 1976 Wildlife Act.
Protesters have been in occupation of woodlands adjacent to the road scheme lands since September 1997.
Yesterday in an affidavit Wicklow County Council's executive engineer, Mr Brendan O'Donnell, said that, before October 6th last, the protesters had not entered or trespassed on the lands acquired by the council for the road scheme.
But when he inspected the lands on that date, he discovered a steel trapdoor set in concrete which was locked and partly concealed by a wooden pallet.
Mr O'Donnell said he was advised that entering upon the council's lands and constructing the trapdoor constituted trespass.
The judge granted a temporary injunction preventing trespass, effective until Friday.