Residents living near one of three short-listed landfill sites in east Galway are involved in a stand-off with the Office of Public Works over a butterfly habitat.
Members of the Ballinahistle/Kilrickle Anti- Super-Dump Committee claim drainage works were carried out in an area which is home to a rare protected species of butterfly. A spokesman said they would continue to prevent the removal of a drainage digger until the matter is resolved.
Ballinahistle is one of three sites earmarked as possible locations for a landfill.
The spokesman, Mr Tom Finn, said an OPW official had apologised to them for damage caused to the habitat. Efforts by Galway County Council to investigate the site as a possible landfill have been the subject of Circuit Court proceedings.
