Large encampment moves on from The Heath in Portlaoise

Scores of caravans and vehicles had parked up at The Heath

A large encampment which sparked High Court proceedings has moved on from The Heath in Portlaoise.

There was just one portable toilet visible on the site today and there didn’t appear to be any littering of damage done to the site across from the GAA grounds.

A High Court order directing the encampment to move off State owned lands at The Heath was delivered to the camp last week.

The main encampment which featured a large tent consisted of members of the ‘Vie et Lumière’ or ‘Life and Light’ an evangelical mission which originated in France and preaches the gospel, primarily to Roma gypsies and Travellers. Its members told the Leinster Express that they intended to move on most likely by Sunday. It’s understood a smaller second group also camped up at The Heath last week.

Members of ‘Vie et Lumière’ said they don’t drink alcohol or party and they had arranged portable toilets and teams of volunteers to clean up their campsite. They said they had concerns about the level of depression and suicide among Travellers and they wanted to preach the gospel.

The encampment on The Heath in Portlaoise | iconic

Independent Laois TD Brian Stanley said he had visited The Heath last week and had met with local residents. Fine Gael TD Willie Aird also met with residents at The Heath to discuss their concerns about illegal encampments.

The TDs are both want Minister with responsibility for the OPW Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran to put in place a mechanism to address any future illegal camping on OPW lands at The Heath.