Castletown House group agree to trial for OPW vehicles

A group that had been objecting to vehicles entering Castletown House in Kildare via a traditional pedestrian entrance on Lime Avenue have agreed to two weeks trial of service vehicles entering the site this way.
The 'Save Castletown Gate Protector' group has agreed to a maximum of two to three vehicles entering the site before 11am on weekdays only.
They said the agreement was reached after a positive meeting with Minister of State for the OPW Kevin Boxer Moran who they said also agreed to restoring dawn to dusk opening hours on Friday 4 July.
They said while there are still a number of issues to explore and resolve they see the move as a "positive first step".
A dispute about access has meant that Castletown House has been largely closed to the public for 19 months and service vehicles have not been able to access the site since Christmas.
Over the May bank holiday weekend, damage was caused to vehicles and facilities used by the Office of Public Works to access the site.
Three people were arrested yesterday in connection with a number of criminal damage incidents at Castletown House.
The estimated cost of the damage was in the region of €400,000.
The three – a man in his 30s and two juveniles – were arrested following a search operation at a number of properties in the county.
The man was charged in connection with the incidents and appeared at the Courts of Criminal Justice yesterday afternoon.
The two male juveniles were released from custody pending referral to the Juvenile Youth Diversion Programme. A file will be prepared for the DPP.
Gardaí said that investigations are ongoing.

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RTÉ News​

2 days ago

• RTÉ News​

Castletown House group agree to trial for OPW vehicles

A group that had been objecting to vehicles entering Castletown House in Kildare via a traditional pedestrian entrance on Lime Avenue have agreed to two weeks trial of service vehicles entering the site this way. The 'Save Castletown Gate Protector' group has agreed to a maximum of two to three vehicles entering the site before 11am on weekdays only. They said the agreement was reached after a positive meeting with Minister of State for the OPW Kevin Boxer Moran who they said also agreed to restoring dawn to dusk opening hours on Friday 4 July. They said while there are still a number of issues to explore and resolve they see the move as a "positive first step". A dispute about access has meant that Castletown House has been largely closed to the public for 19 months and service vehicles have not been able to access the site since Christmas. Over the May bank holiday weekend, damage was caused to vehicles and facilities used by the Office of Public Works to access the site. Three people were arrested yesterday in connection with a number of criminal damage incidents at Castletown House. The estimated cost of the damage was in the region of €400,000. The three – a man in his 30s and two juveniles – were arrested following a search operation at a number of properties in the county. The man was charged in connection with the incidents and appeared at the Courts of Criminal Justice yesterday afternoon. The two male juveniles were released from custody pending referral to the Juvenile Youth Diversion Programme. A file will be prepared for the DPP. Gardaí said that investigations are ongoing.

The Journal

3 days ago

• The Journal

Three arrested for €400,000 worth of vandalism at OPW site near Castletown House

THREE PEOPLE HAVE been arrested in connection with vandalism worth an estimated €400,000 at an Office of Public Works (OPW) site used by staff at Castletown House last month. The arrests were made this morning following a search operation conducted by gardaí at a number of homes in Celbridge, Co Kildare, located close to Castletown House estate. Two teenagers and a man in his 30s were detained by gardaí shortly after the search. Gardaí say the arrests relate to several separate incidents of criminal damage that occurred between 22 April and 4 May at Donaghcumper House. The property is used as a staging site for transporting OPW staff to nearby Castletown House, a historic estate at the centre of an 21-month controversy – as residents have opposed the OPW's proposals to use a narrow pedestrian walkway for heavy vehicles . Advertisement Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Vehicles and facilities used by the OPW were targeted over the May Bank Holiday weekend at the site . Four OPW and contractor vehicles were overturned, allegedly using a teleporter which was later dumped in the River Liffey, while outbuildings and staff welfare units were set on fire and four CCTV towers were disabled after their wiring was cut. OPW OPW Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, described it as 'shocking and unacceptable' in a statement last month. Save Castletown Gate Protectors, a local group who have maintained a presence at the entrance to Castletown House in protest against the OPW for 18 months, similarly condemned the incident. The estimated cost of the damage was in the region of €400,000. The three are being held at garda stations in Kildare. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal

Irish Independent

3 days ago

• Irish Independent

Three men arrested following €400,000 worth of damage at Castletown House in Co Kildare

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