Elderly woman faces jail over land access row

An elderly Offaly woman could face going to jail over her refusal to allow the ESB and Eirgrid access to her land to complete a power line. The High Court was told yesterday (Thursday) that Teresa Treacy of Woodfield House, Clonmore, Tullamore, continues to block ESB workers from entering her land despite the existence of a High Court order issued last month. The ESB lodged contempt proceedings against the woman and the case returns to court next Monday. Sisters Teresa and Mary Treacy object to the construction of the power line over their forestry land in Offaly because of damage to trees. They want the power line run underground. Despite two court orders granting the ESB access to the land, the High Court heard on Thursday that Teresa Treacy has locked gates to the land and stood in front of the lock when ESB workers tried to cut it earlier this week. The court was told she was "emotionally attached to her forestry" and at a previous hearing the court had to be adjourned after she "lay on the floor wailing". The woman has told the court and local gardai she is prepared to go to jail. She was not represented in court yesterday and is expected to attend next Monday when contempt proceedings will be heard. Lawyers for the ESB and Eirgrid said she was the "last person standing in the way of the completion of the power line". Planning permission was granted in 2008 and 83 other land owners have allowed access to their land. The ESB claims the completion of the line is necessary to improve power quality for consumers in Tullamore.