Families tell of pain as bypass is turned down

Horror, anger and resentment all have been expressed by residents of Slane village this week in the wake of An Bord Pleanala's decision to refuse permission for the long-awaited Slane bypass. As furious residents and Meath County Council consider their options this week, relatives of those who have died on Slane's notorious roads have spoken of their pain at the decision and their fear that other families will face the same devastation they have experienced. Warnings that it is only a matter of time before another life is lost in Slane, where at least 22 people have died in road accidents, have come as Meath County Council considers all options in relation to traffic issues in the village. Robbie Harding, whose father, Paddy, died 14 years ago in an accident on the descent to the bridge, said he felt great anger, resentment and frustration at the decision, and was sickened by the fact that other families could face the devasation his family had experienced. Anne Griffin, whose father, Paddy Cassidy, was hit by a car when he was walking to Mass 30 years ago, said she also was horrified at the decision. She said every accident in Slane brought back memories of the terrible day her father died. She said last week's decision was a terrible blow to her family. "It means that more people will go through what we went through," she added. An Bord Pleanala refused permission on the grounds that the proposed bypass was too close to the Bru na Boinne World Heritage site and Newgrange, but local residents now say that World Heritage status has become toxic to the people of the area. To read extensive coverage of this story see this week's Meath Chronicle.