Save Wood Quay Campaign 1979

[Archivist's Note: photocopies of some reports and correspondence are duplicated across this subsubsubseries as they were being used for research purposes, as part of briefs for counsel and/or as exhibits in court.]

Material in this folder includes a batch of correspondence and two reports, mostly photocopies, marked "Pat Wallace" (19/04/1978-09/01/1979) which includes correspondence between Wallace [lead archaeologist on site] and Joseph Raftery, Director National Museum of Ireland (NMI); correspondence between Wallace and Dublin Corporation including with Seán Haughey, Assistant City Manager, William Dundon, Law Agent, Philip Shiel, Law Department, and Pat Russell, Principal Officer, Development Department; correspondence to Wallace from McWilliams and D [Boyce/Boyle?] of John Paul & company Ltd [construction firm]; correspondence between Raftery and Dublin Corporation including Russell and Haughey; a typed photocopied article by Patrick Walsh on the excavation work at Wood Quay; photocopy of licence issued by the Commissioners of Public Works to NMI to dig/excavate from 10th October - 9th December 1978; report to G Hegarty, Principal Officer relating to visits to York, United Kingdom, October 1978; letter from Raftery to director of National Parks and Monuments branch, Office of Public Works [aka Board of Works]. Further material in this folder includes photocopies of correspondence from Nicholas Robinson & Co solicitors to the Chief State Solicitor in relation to evidence from client (FX Martin) that mechanical excavation had taken place (09/01/1979) and to the attorney general joining FX Martin as relator in proceedings (24-29/01/1979), to the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin in relation to plans to apply to the Judge in the High Court for an injunction 09/01/1979, from William Dundon to Robinson re consent, 10/01/1979, and to Dr George Eogan, member of standing committee 23/01/1979; photocopy of article re Wood Quay in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung 22/01/1979 with typed translation.

[Archivist's Note: It is probable that much of this material was photocopied for use for and in trial later in 1979]

Newspaper cutting Daily Mirror, 12/03/1979 reporting on FX Martin (FXM) taking his case to the European Commission of Human Rights in Strasbourg; document and copy "In the matter of an application to the European Commission of Human Rights under article 25 of the convention for the protection of Human Rights and Fundamental freedoms Francis X. Martin petitioner and Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Attorney General, High Contracting Party", additional submissions 06/04/1979; press statement from Friends of Mediaeval Dublin welcoming initiative from Dublin City Councillors who have tabled motions concerning Wood Quay, 30/04/1979; handwritten notes on the case and how to present it, in loose form and two Parliament Barristers notebooks marked "Wood Quay I" and "Wood Quay II"; personal letter from FXM to Mary Robinson (MR) congratulating her on a win in Labour Court (another case?) which he believed would/should "win you the support of even the male chauvinist pigs not to mention the piglets", 12/05/1979; letter from Anngret Simms to MR congratulating her on election to Dublin City Council, and enclosing newspaper cutting from German newspaper Die Zeit 27-29/06/1979

Folder marked "copy documents 1979 John Paul & Co Ltd v FX Martin + Ors 1979 Injunction proceedings" consisting of copies of legal documents including affidavits of FX Martin (FXM), 18/06/1979, Peter McCabe, 27/01/1979, Trevor Lloyd, 12/06/1979, Leo Swan 17/06/1979, Michael O'Brien, Dan Brown and Alexis Fitzgerald, 18/06/1979; correspondence referenced in affidavits including between FXM and John Paul & Co Ltd, 09/06/1979, from Mobius Instruments to FXM in relation to bleed screws being removed from pumps used to drain the site (exhibit W), 09/06/1979; agreement between John Paul & Co Ltd as contractor and the Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin 21/10/1977; letter from Arthur Cox & Co solicitors to FXM, Bridie Rosney, Seamus Kelly, Leo Swan, Pat Healy, Seamus O'Reilly, Richard Haworth, Michael O'Brien and John Gallagher noting that the High Court had granted John Paul & Co Ltd an injunction restraining them from trespassing on the Civic Offices Site at Wood Quay that day 13/06/1979, with copy of order of the court, and notice of motion attached; notice of appeal, 19/06/1979 from Plaintiff (John Paul & Co Ltd) following Justice Gannon's order that day to discharge the injunction against those occupying the site (Operation Sitric); Book of appeal (Mary Robinson's copy) "The Supreme Court between John Paul & Company Ltd Plaintiff and Francis X Martin, Bridie Rosney, Seamus Kelly, Leo Swan, Pat Healy, Seamus O'Reilly, Richard Haworth, Michael O'Brien and John Gallagher Defendants".

Material relating to the appeal of John Paul & Co Ltd to the Supreme Court following Justice Gannon's order to discharge the injunction against the occupiers of the site (“Operation Sitric”). It includes handwritten case notes, copies of legal documents already submitted to court including affidavits, correspondence, document listing the instances of bulldozing on the site from 8th January 1979 - 25th June 1979, TC Smyth's legal opinion and extracts, a statement from the eight listed defendants on their decision to occupy the site on 1st June 1979, on 20th June 1979, copy of statement by Senator Mary Robinson "Re Archaeological Objects handed over to the National Museum" 25/06/1979, and letters to Dublin City Council relating to the Save the Wood Quay Election Committee manifesto to which they had pledged 28 June 1979.

Material relating to Dublin City Council's engagement with the Wood Quay controversy in June/July 1979, including the new council (post-election) directing the City Manager to enquire about breaches "by the contractors of the terms of the Consent of 29th August 1978" following alleged disturbance and damage on site. Material includes copy of statement by FX Martin (FXM) re Corporation bulldozing a portion of the National Monument 07/03/1979; minutes of Dublin City Council 09/04/1979, 04&07/05/1979, 17/07/1979 and abstract of the "more Important Managerial Orders Made During the" April and May; handwritten notes of Mary Robinson (MR); copy of document on Labour Party's proposal for Wood Quay and the proposal that the Labour Group within the council would move to have it examined by the City Manager (1978?); correspondence to councillors from public re the Wood Quay site; circulars to each member of council from Dublin City Manager and Town Clerk; correspondence from Principal Officer, Dublin Corporation to MR as councillor; copy of judgement of the Supreme Court delivered 21/06/1979 by Justice O'Higgins; letter from FXM to MR stating a bulldozer had begun to cut in to an unexcavated section without a supervisor from National Museum of Ireland (NMI) present, and querying whether it was a deliberate provocation 25/06/1979; statement by MR as senator re objects handed over to NMI which were thrown up by the unsupervised excavation 25/06/1979; translation of extract from article in German Newspaper/Magazine Die Zeit 29/06/1979, Gerhard Prause; article on the 20 day occupation of the Wood Quay site from the point of view of occupiers, which later appeared in a newsletter and which gave the reasoning for the need for occupation of the site, known as “Operation Sitric”; 3 x B&W photographs which were exhibits X, Y and Z referred to in the affidavit of Leo Swan, 17/06/1979 showing a before and after of the section bulldozed; letter to Nicholas Robinson from [BJE?] which includes a slide of the "Sleeping Viking" statue in Elsinore, Denmark which he suggested FXM might like to use, 21/06/1979; copy of telegram to Dublin City Council from Stockholm University appealing to new council to honour European Viking heritage at Wood Quay; circular from Local Government And Public Services Union to Dublin Corporation Branch urging them to support the building of the Civic Offices at Wood Quay 02/07/1979; questions from MR (as Councillor ) to Acting City Manager for written reply 02/07/1979; copies of memo on Section 4 Motion for City Council and supporting documentation relating to motion tabled by the Labour Party, 02/07/1979; copies of correspondence and other material which was produced in the Council chamber; motions of City Council 02/09 July 1979.

Photocopies of legal documents relating to the Supreme Court Appeal against Injunction including some duplicates of affidavits from FX Martin 28/11/1977 and 14/12/1977, Consuelo O'Connor 28/11/1977, George Eogan 29/11/1977, George Hegarty 30/11/1977 and others which have notations, of correspondence, of newspaper cuttings and of statement FX Martin made to the press in 07/03/1979 re the Corporation bulldozing a portion of the national monument without supervision from anyone at the National Museum of Ireland in contempt of the Condition of the Consent of 29/08/1978.

Material relating to legal costs including draft letter seeking help with funding (probably from Friends of Mediaeval Dublin to subscribers) n.d.; document labelled "16 July 79" issued by the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland and the RH Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of Dublin in relation to the Consent issued by parties on 29/08/1978 under the Consent under Section 14 of the National Monuments Act, 1930, dated 16/07/1979; letter from Dublin Corporation to Nicholas Robinson re assessment of damages, 20/07/1979; material including correspondence relating to costs to defendants and costs to plaintiffs including typed article on FX Martin being sued by Corporation for £200,000 and notice of motion

Material in this file includes handwritten notes, circulars to members of the Dublin City Council (DCC), 19/06/1979, directing the city manager to rescind consent of Dublin Corporation (part of joint consent of 29/08/1978), and rescinding decision to have Dublin Civic offices built on Wood Quay site; photocopy of typed memo on Section 4 Motion for City Council, 2 July 1979; photocopy of letter from F.J. Feely, Deputy City Manager to Lord Mayor, Aldermen and members of DCC 02/07/979; summons to Lord Mayor, Aldermen and members of DCC to monthly meetings (02/07/1979, 13/08/1979, 03/09/1979) and special meetings (09/07/1979, 17/07/1979) by Feely; circular from Muriel Allison and Michael O'Brien, secretary and press officer for Wood Quay Action Group calling on TDs and local councils to press the government to allow Dublin Corporation to move the Civic Offices off Wood Quay; letter from majority of Aldermen and councillors and signed by them, including Mary Robinson (MR) to J McCarthy, chairman of the Commission of Public Works in Ireland, expressing "grave concern about the number of serious complaints alleging breaches of the terms of the joint Consent which have been received by us and which have also been communicated to the Acting City Manager, Mr Feely", 11/07/1979; photocopy of typed letter to MR both as Senator and member of DCC from Professor Frank Mitchell, Trinity College Dublin, asking she take immediate action to see flagrant breaches are stopped, 13/07/1979, which she then attached to letter to Feely 19/07/1979; letter from Assistant City Manager [Feely?] to MR enclosing copy of Consent to enable National Museum of Ireland to recommence archaeological excavation, 20/07/1979; press release issued by FX Martin (FXM) in relation to being sued by Dublin Corporation for £200,000, 23/07/1979; copy of typed letter from Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, George Colley to Allison and O'Brien in response to their letter, stating Government won't and can't intervene, 31/07/1979; draft request from signed members of DCC that a resolution to direct the City Manager "to use his best endeavours to obtain from Mr Colley... a guarantee of financial support of such nature as to enable this City Council to give effect to Colley's suggestion and save the national monument..." be considered at next ordinary meeting of DCC; official minutes of a Special meeting of DCC, 20/08/1979; handwritten list of dates for consultations between MR as Barrister and FXM, and visits to Wood Quay site 1977-9; opinion[?] of Damian McGarry, n.d.; correspondence (personnel) between FXM and the Robinsons, 08/1979; draft motion to be tabled at DCC meeting 13/08/1979; photocopy of newspaper article in German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, 17/08/1979 with translation ("The Viking Town in Dublin turns into a Political Issue") and cover note to MR from Anngret [Simms]; copy of letter to councillors from Muriel Allison, 30/08/1979; typed replies to questions posed by Councillor Michael O'Halloran, Alderman Ben Briscoe, Councillor Mary D Flaherty, and Alderman Sean Loftus [aka Seán D. Dublin Bay-Rockall Loftus], meeting of the DCC, 03/09/1979; report of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, on the conservation of the “European architectural heritage (1)" 13/09/1979; photocopy of letter from Nicholas Robinson, solicitor for FXM, to William Dundon, Law Agent, Dublin Corporation in relation to whether FXM gave an undertaking to the court, [relates to damages and the Attorney General's liability], 27/09/1979.

Material in this file includes photocopies of typed replies to questions from Councillor Michael O'Halloran and Alderman Alexis FitzGerald at meeting of Dublin City Council (DCC), 01/10/1979; set of official minutes for monthly, quarterly and special meetings of the DCC (18/06/1979, 25/06/1979, 02/07/1979, 09/07/1979, 17/07/1979, 13/08/1979, 03/09/1979, 01/10/1979); photocopy of typed motion set down for meeting of DCC on 08/10/1979 by Alan Shatter, Councillor; copy of official report of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly thirty first Ordinary Session, 08/10/1979; photocopy of typed letter from Assistant City Manager to the Planning and Development Committee, Development Department, Dublin Corporation in relation to the DCC passing a resolution on 20/08/1979 to have the results of the investigation into alleged breaches of the terms of Consent 29/08/1979 and of the Building Contract 21/10/1977, be made available, 08/10/1979; copy of proposal submitted by Senator Mary Robinson (MR) for consideration by the National Monuments Advisory Committee of the DCC at special meeting 16/10/1979 to have an area of Medieval Dublin given special consideration in terms of cultural heritage with respect to maintenance and development; folder of copies of legal documents relating to FX Martin (FXM)'s application to the European Commission of Human Rights including further submissions 21/10/1979-22/10/1979; photocopies of correspondence between Nicholas Robinson as solicitor for FXM, and William Dundon as Law Agent for Dublin Corporation, 05/09/1979-30/10/1979 along with copy of letter from Councillor MR to City Manager 26/10/1979 possibly as part of European Commission application or research into costs; letter from Anngret Simms, lecturer UCD, to Robinsons with copy and translation of letter received by Simms from Hannelore Schmidt, wife of German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt in relation to their interest in Wood Quay 23-26/10/1979; copies of letters sent by Ann Lane, for Senator MR to Alderman Alexus FitzGerald, and Councillor Mary Flaherty in relation to getting support from the Fine Gael group within the DCC for her proposal; Parliament Barristers notebook with handwritten notes.