Fancy Protesting In Ireland?

The Glen of the Downs Nature Reserve Vigil (in it's third year) continues. Glen Guardians were told by Duchas (the Government Heritage Department) that the camp building would be soon pulled down. The campaign continues in every way possible, and the Glen needs a new generation! Many activists have been forced to the sideline with injunctions hanging over their heads, so new faces are needed to go to the Glen for a day or two, or as long as you want.

At the end of February, five female and eight male protesters were ordered to attend the High Court to answer allegations of breaching an Injunction not to interfere with the work of Wicklow County Council and not to trespass on Council land.

The Council asked the Judge for a new form of Undertaking, requiring an oath to not interfere with works, not trespass on Council land, and not "to enter any of the adjoining lands occupied by Duchas comprising a nature reserve which is now closed to the public". Despite protests by their Counsel, the Judge insisted that they either swear to that Undertaking, or be sent to prison. They unanimously refused, and were jailed. Some later signed the undertaking and were released, but 4 remain in prison. Please write to Tony Baird, Dominic Woolf and Hugh MacLochlainn who are all in Cloverhill Prison, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland, and Diana Peuker (a German national) who is in Mountjoy Women's Prison, North Circular Road, Dublin, Ireland.

For info or directions to the camp, contact glenofthedowns@ireland.com.