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THE ESB AND EIRGRID say that the “vast majority” of work has been completed on land owned by Teresa Treacy, 65, who is currently in Mountjoy Prison after being jailed for contempt of court two weeks ago.
Treacy was jailed after she said she would not allow staff from the ESB and Eirgrid to gain access to her land for the construction of an overhead power line.
Today, Eirgrid released a statement saying they estimate 1.5 days of tree cutting on site remain on 1.2 acres of forestry. They say the tree cutting will have impacted approximately 5% of the overall commercial plantation.
ESB and EirGrid added:
Representatives of the companies were involved in the past week in positive discussions with the family of Ms Treacy who has been imprisoned for contempt of court, and progress was made towards a resolution.
A feature of the companies’ plans is a major programme of planting of replacement trees, following the construction of the vital electricity line. In the discussions it has been clear that delays or an impasse caused by protests would be regretted by both the family and ESB/EirGrid as it would result in prolonging Ms Treacy’s stay in the Dochas Centre.
Both companies have today restated “their deep regret that despite over three years of discussions, the situation reached this juncture”.
A spokesperson from the Teresa Treacy Support Group told TheJournal.ie:
[The ESB and Eirgrid] still have to get into the property from the back, which people have succeeded in stopping them from working on. They have to cut maybe 4000 or 5000 trees from the back side of the property.
Early this morning there were already 30 people on the land, protesting and replanting trees.
“The atmosphere is very good,” said the spokesperson. “People are camped on the site where the pylon is supposed to go and people have been collecting wood for the stove. People have been coming with donations of food and different people have dropped off native Irish trees. There’s a lot of things going on.”
He said that the tree-felling that had been done to date was accomplished because there hadn’t been enough protesters to stop the work.
If they are going to try and work now, there is no way they will be able to work. There are so many people here. If the ESB did try to work it would just be an ugly backlash.
A protest is being organised for Tuesday at the ESB headquarters on Stephen’s Green.
A vigil will take place tonight in Dublin at Mountjoy Women’s Prison from 6 – 8pm.
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am I correct in my assumption that eirgrid/esb are the ones with the power to have her released?
if that is the case, they have no regrets in having the poor woman locked up. as it appears they intend to keep her imprisoned until they have done what they want to do
No. Companies do not put people in Jail, the courts do. She was jailed for refusing to abide by a court order, only the courts can release her.
Tim, the courts will only release her when the companies are satisfied that she will no longer obstruct work.
Conor, Tim is correct. The companies have no say in it, not now. She will be released when the courts are happy she will no longer obstruct work, which she has said she will do.
Not quite true Conor. If she had purged her contempt for the court she could have avoided jail.
Like it or not and whether one might consider it right or not but there is a justice system in this country. The system isn’t without faults but the system will not change simply because she is a 65 year old woman. She fought the case and lost. If everyone who lost cases in this country decided well it doesn’t matter and I can ignore the decision we would be in a right mess.
And before people go on about the corrupt bankers and politicians, they have yet to see the inside a courtroom so that argument doesn’t wash I’m afraid.
The Judge said he will release her when the ESB have their work carried out or if the ESB are satisfied that she will no longer disrupt the work and inform the judge of this.
the above says that the majority of the work is complete so it sounds like it’ll be finished soon…. at that stage it’ll be pointless keep her in prison as there will be nothing left to protest about……………
If it is a commercial tree growing operation, surely ESB/Eirgrid can compensate for the values of the trees and disruption…
Wouldn’t that solve this?
the person with the power to release her is the judge who did her for contempt of court
Cork_Granny they have been making generous offers to her that go over & above what she is entitled to since 2007 and at their wits end had to take her to court. It is her fault that she is in prison
i love these cases – see if some right wing nut in Texas got jailed for refusing to allow the governement on their land then we’d have a good ol snigger at it!!
well this is the same case! someone who is refusing to cooperate with the state – we’ve been buliding roads and putting up power lines since the foundation of the state. nothing new here! finish the work – get her out of jail! move on!
Get sensible comment on a highly emotive issue.
Sorry, I meant great comment
sorry ronan rob is right if it was some right wing guy in the U.S it would be snigger snigger but its a woman in ireland who happens to be 65. originaly we were told it was an attempt to protect the enviroment now its acommerical plantation in other words the trees were going to be cut down anywayand so the land owher would be compensated for this the more i read the more it sounds like NIMBY syndrome dressed up as enviromentalism
State Bodied companies run by the government, also Age Week Sponsored by the ESB ironic isn’t it.
no the irony would be if you were aged you could flout the law just because they were state run
5,000 trees though? For an overhead power line. Was there really no alternative?
yea sounds like a valid point!
i’d imagine they wouldnt go to the cost of cutting down more trees than they have to though? also they appear to be replanting which will partially help restore the damage done.
Greenpeace among others are calling for decentralised electricity generation.
This is argued to be a more sustainable approach to generation and removes the need for high voltage lines.
http://www.localpower.org/
yeah rfight Sean until people object to small scale gas power plants on land fill and to the erction of windmills because it ruins the view both of which have been objected to and stopped in this country
No Oonions there wasn’t an alternative. If there was a viable alternative the would have done that in 2007 and the much needed line would already be in use
Den, I still doubt that the scale of this was necessary.
“In February 2006 the ESB began plans to construct a 110kV transmission powerline from Cushaling to Thornsbury. The plans specify that double woodpole structures and steel towers accommodating overhead powerlines be built at 200 metre intervals over a total distance of 32 kilometres through the lands of local landowners.” from here (http://www.indymedia.ie/article/100498)
Even if the entire 32km was on Treacy’s land, that would be over 150 tress per km. Is the scale of the operation due to absolute necessity or is it about minimising cost / effort?
Does everyone fail to see the point that it was HER land at the end of the day. Her being in jail is a disgrace. The typical Irish “sit back and let it all happen” attitude on here is unbelievable. You should all be ashamed of yourselves.
But the ESB have a legal right to do it, regardless of whose land it is. This is all set out in section 53 of the Electricity (Supply) Act, 1927. It isn’t a “sit back and let it all happen” attitude; it’s having respect for the law.
sickening …. truly sickening
I admire her courage and conviction but judge put her in jail for contempt. Dont really think one person should be able to prevent people coming onto their land for the good of the nation as a whole.
What a wonderful lady. That is the older type of Irish person, one who had principals and pride
I’d rather the younger,more contemporary type of Irish person who cares more about the country than her own land. I’m curious to know what powers her home?
Would that be the same younger, more contemporary Irish person that gave away all of Ireland’s sovereignty and independence? Would that be the same young Irish person that cares more about the X-Factor than they do the future of the country? Yes, good man
I think Nicholas you’ll find as many older people watching the x factor as young as to who voted to give away soverignity (if it was actually given away considering we were allowed to dig quite a big hole all by ourselves) you will find more older people than younger vote
I would have more sympathy if this was not a commercial plantation i.e. if the trees had been growing for a hundred years or so and were hardwoods, the truth is they haven’t, the trees have been pllanted with the aim of making money.
The ESB and Eirgrid need to run a powerline through the land and so will use this corridor, they will compensate her a few thousand per pole and many thousand if they need a pylon. They would have looked at all the options because i’m sure if there was an easier way they would have used it. Every tree that the ESB cut she will be compensated for its full potential value.
Also to keep with envoirnmental policies ESB/Eirgrid will be bound by law to replant. I would not be surprised if she is receiving in the region of 200k for this inconvienience. as many have before.
The other thing is about running it underground, i would call on anyone to name a country whos utilities runs HV powerlines underground as a policy, lots of people speaking b*l@x trying to look smart. even if they did run a powerline they would still be required to cut the trees, albeit, not so many, but there would have to be a roadway built for the full length of the cable on which the esb would be required to have right of way.
Now can anyone give me a good sensible counter argument who actually knows what they are talking about?
These trees were planted to make money by cutting them down on maturity. The esb have paid her, where’s the problem?
“delays or an impasse caused by protests would be regretted by both the family and ESB/EirGrid as it would result in prolonging Ms Treacy’s stay in the Dochas Centre”
Prolonging her stay..! What a nice way to say that she’ll be locked up for even longer. Why would the presence of protesters have any impact on how long Ms Treacy is held in prison? Makes no sense.. surely the protestors are there of their own accord.
Eirgrid say they are instigating a planting program. I don’t see this woman’s problem. If the operation was commercial then she should have been compensated. If the trees wee part of a forested area she wanted protected then the replant was good enough.
Noel think for a minute….How do seedlings compare to established trees ? There is the element of time to be taken into account. How can these seedlings make up for the time lost ? One tree is not like another. Years of growth, ground settling, stabilization etc. A replant is not the same thing ! Shabby treatment to put the woman in jail, ripe out years of work while she is locked up, and then tell her there is no harm done cause they have replanted a few whips on the ground they tore up in the process.
Well said Daithi.
Established trees that were due to be felled shortly. She was compensated fully for them and had 5000 more replanted. Tell me again where she lost out in this deal. She probably got the trees to sell on too
Where does it say that ?
And did they compensate her for the trouble of now having power lines going across her land ? She might not want that, some people don’t.
Just keep doing what you are told Rob. Like a good obedient little boy. And yes, she should be able to have an orgy on her land if she likes. Private property. What part of those two words don’t you understand ?
a) learn to use the reply button – its not that complicated!
b) head off and join a cult in Texas or wherever u find people who agree with you! there are too many examples documented limitations to privacy to even bother with your waffle.
Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves. â
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
TRue Nico and not too many of them left ,we need many many more 1
I rest my case.
rest away! if she shot someone on her own land would you be ok with it? should she be allowed to build a casino on her own land also if she wants to??
no doubt you’ll say she should be allowed but the sensible among us realise that a state has to consist of more than individual wants and needs! rules and laws are in place for a reason – she willfully disobeyed them as indeed she is entitled to! she is now suffering the consequences which she also seems very happy about!
next thing we’ll be back talkin about those lunatics up in Mayo with their Shell to Sea campaigns!
Mbaaa Mbaaaa I see sheep
yes Nicholas you do you are dutifully folowing them just because you follow the cause doesnt make you enlightened its just a different flock
A State that robs an individual from their own property based on the greed of a corporation doesn’t deserve to be.
And those that think it’s normal and just holding another human captive for protect their own property are immoral human waste.
There is no corporate greed involved. Get the facts straight. ESB have a legal entitlement to go on the land the same as in any country of the world. This is necessary work. It was totally within her control to not go to prison. She has been compensated fully for the trees and the same number replanted. Not a bad deal. She will stay in prison longer if the ESB are stopped by protesters from completing the work.
A.Rosaria the state is not robbing an individual of her property she will still own her property its not for a”corporation” its for the people unless you dont recieve electricty from a supplier any supplier other than your own equipment then its you who is benefitting as to the owner of the property eirgrid will pay for intial work to take place compensate the owner for the inconvience and continue to paqy for the use its part of the reason electricty costs so much
Joe you are very eloquent and make a lot of sense
@ Joe and @Den Thank God somebody else making sense finally! I had given up commenting on the misinformation and anti-establishment comments. Originally we were all being led to believe it was mature trees, then that was blown out of the water when people began to pictures on Facebook etc, then it was 120,000 trees etc etc. People asking was there no environmental assessment or process can go to Offaly County Council website and check it out on the planning system, look at An Bord Pleanala and all there to see. Only 3 submissions were made to the county council and not one of those was Teresa Treacy and again with the change in line route submitted in 2008 no objections at all. So what is really going on here? Sounds like either NIMBY or greed i.e. she wasn’t getting the compensation she wanted.
i have been reading all the comments here…
she may have been compensated.. and trees may be re-planted… but at the end of the day some ppl just dont care about money… i know the money driven ones on here wont be able to understand that there r just some things that cannot be bought… and there r some ppl who cannot be bought… i would do the same if i was her… fair play to her for having the balls to stand up for what she owns…
Well then if she doesn’t care about money and really doesn’t want the line then she should just stop using the National Grid. Until she does that she is not protecting her land she is being a NIMBY.
The argument of profit and enviroment aside, the land ‘belongs’ to her and to have a large
government run company bully there way into doing what they wish with her land is wrong.
Where does it end? If it were Tom, Dick, or Harry from down the road, landed on site to clear 5000 trees
because they saw fit, it wolud be them in jail not Tereas.
The reality of it is you don’t own anything, if those in power decree, they can do what they like.
@Rob
A) There is no reply button under your comments and only yours (how convenient).
B)”too many examples documented limitations to privacy”? Learn about the usage of the word “of”. It’s not a big word. Nice and simple for you.
Um Erich you hit reply under the main comment and you can recognise all the ‘sub-comments’ by the left indent. Look back over the comments and you will see it instead of being a gobshite
You sure told me !
5000 trees
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