Irish Environment Minister John Gormley has insisted that the M3 motorway in Co Meath poses no threat to the Rath Lugh monument near the Hill of Tara.

Last week, protestor Lisa Feeney chained herself inside an underground tunnel for 60 hours in an effort to block the construction work, which protestors say will undermine the esker (a long, winding ridge) that Rath Lugh sits on top of.

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They say the work contravenes a protection order on the national monument, but the Green Party Minister insisted that he could "absolutely guarantee" that Rath Lugh will not be damaged.

Ms Feeney said that a review of the route of the motorway in light of additional land had been central to her decision to come out of the tunnel. She said an agreement had been reached with the National Roads Authority and that work on the motorway would be suspended until April 17th.

(VB)