“I will go to jail” – Knockmore resident

NOT HAPPY Dermot McHale with his children Patrick, aged 5, and Aisling, aged 2, outside their home at Currabaggan, Knockmore.

“I will go to jail” – Knockmore resident’s vow as Eirgrid controversy rumbles on


Ciara Galvin

A KNOCKMORE man has said he will do the same number of years in jail as the late ex-South African President and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela if Eirgrid go through with plans to erect pylons on his land and near the house of his brother who has mild special needs.
Dermot McHale, a part-time farmer and Irish Rail employee told The Mayo News he and his family did not sleep or eat as a result of worry after they found out on October 7 last that the planned installation of 45-metre-high pylons would be near his home and the newly built home of his brother Michael James in Currabaggan, Knockmore.
Dermot and his siblings were informed that one such pylon would be located just 80 to 100 metres from Michael James’s new home.
Dermot and his siblings set about building a modest three-bedroom bungalow for their 42-year-old brother last year after their father died in 2010.
“We decided to build the house so Michael James could lead an independent life near the family home,” explained Dermot.
Michael James and his family jointly funded the build of the €80,000 house and work started last year after Mayo County Council granted planning permission subject to stipulations such as direction on the height of the roof and the provision of a septic tank system.

‘Dirty tactics’
Just a year after starting the build Dermot and his family became aware of the Eirgrid preferred route corridor.
Just a week after finding out the preferred route corridor, over 700 people came to a local meeting to discuss the project, and Dermot said it gave them great resolve.
“I certainly got a determination they [pylons] weren’t going to come anywhere near the house...We are really annoyed and really determined,” said Mr Mc Hale, adding that he and other land owners are currently signing forms of authority to ‘keep Eirgrid off our land’.
Mr McHale said Eirgrid has ‘employed all sorts of dirty tactics’ and ‘disregarded no entry and no trespassing signs’ over the last number of weeks.
Eirgrid issued letters recently informing landowners that contracted engineering staff would contacting them to arrange to call to farms to ask for permission to access lands. McHale said landowners are currently considering sending Eirgrid a solicitor’s letter or seeking an injunction to prevent Eirgrid staff from entering land.
“Eirgrid have employed all sorts of dirty tactics for two or three weeks frightening and intimidating people,” said Mr Mc Hale.
In a statement released by the Knockmore and Moygownagh/Kilfian Community and Landscape Protection Groups it claims that Eirgrid staff are calling to property owners unannounced and without making an appointment.
The groups said the unannounced call outs were frightening senior citizens who worry that unexpected visitors may be thieves or criminals.
“One senior citizen living on his own was so frightened when two of Eirgrid’s agents arrived unannounced that he fainted and needed medical attention,” the statement detailed.
The statement continued that staff are ignoring the signs that property owners have erected at some expense stating that Eirgrid are not welcome and should keep out.
“They are entering people’s houses without permission, which is possibly a criminal act,” said the group.
Grid West Project Manager, SeΡn Meagher said he would encourage landowners and representatives to make contact with Eirgrid to have their say on the project.
“Engagement by landowners at this stage does not indicate their support for the project or take away from the right of landowners to make a submission to An Bord PleanΡla in due course,” said Mr Meaghar.
Responding to claims of by the north Mayo group, Mr Meaghar stated that it was not the practice of Eirgrid representatives to enter people’s houses or land without permission.
Meaghar said Eirgrid staff only call to people unannounced where they have not been able to make contact with them in advance and are happy to call back by appointment.

Not opposed
Despite his strong opposition to the installation of the overhead power lines, Dermot said he is not opposed to the upgrading of infrastructure that could result in jobs being created, highlighting that his family are like any other in the west of Ireland who have ‘suffered from emigration’.
Dermot and Michael James live in Knockmore, while one brother lives in Spain and another has worked in the Middle East for over 20 years. Dermot’s brother John who works in Kuwait for extended periods will also be affected if the proposed line goes ahead, as the line would pass just 30 metres from his home.
Asked if he was angered by the recent admission by incoming Eirgrid Chairman John O’Connor that he would not like pylons near his home, Dermot said 'quite the contrary' and that at least O’Connor was honest.
Mr McHale concluded by saying that he was ‘determined’ to oppose Eirgrid from crossing his land to install the power line.
“If they proceed I will do whatever it takes to stop them. On a day when we’re mourning the loss of Nelson Mandela whatever number of years he did in jail I will do the same...If I have to do 40 years in jail that’s exactly what I will do,” stated Mr Mc Hale.