Campaigner warns of fresh M3 legal challenge

A campaigner against the proposed M3 motorway who withdrew his Supreme Court appeal against the road in a settlement with the…

A campaigner against the proposed M3 motorway who withdrew his Supreme Court appeal against the road in a settlement with the National Roads Authority (NRA), has spoken of a new legal challenge to the road.

Earlier this year Vincent Salafia lost a challenge to the M3 in the High Court with costs estimated at €500,000 awarded against him. Mr Salafia then launched a Supreme Court appeal but agreed to withdraw this in a settlement with the NRA which saw the State agency agree not to pursue him for its costs.

Last night Mr Salafia addressed a public meeting in the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, chaired by Green Party Senate hopeful Martin Hogan. According to the Green Party, Mr Salafia's presence was to "provide information about a new legal challenge to the construction of the M3 motorway".

Salafia said that "at least two" people - whom he declined to identify - plan to mount a fresh legal challenge soon.

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Speaking before the talk last night, Mr Salafia told reporters there were a number of potential areas of future litigation against the Government.

"The remains of at least two national monuments have been found in the area of the motorway in recent times," he said.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist