Priests Battle Gold Mine Near Sacred Sites | Belfast News

0:00It's September 10th, on Cory with the story. This is Bell Fass News today, driven by AI. Plans for a gold mine in County Tyrone are facing serious opposition, with local priests raising alarms about potential damage to sacred sites. The proposed mine, near the villages of Green Castle and Gorton, could impact historic churches and graveyards. A key concern is the structural integrity of St. Mary's Church in Ralski, a listed building with shallow foundations which priests fear could be. St. Mary's Church is a sacred building that was built by the Church in the early days of the Great Wall of the Church. The priest also highlighted the sacred nature of the burial grounds, noting that graves dating back to 1824 could be disturbed or collapsed. This, they argue, would cause immense emotional distress to families. Similar concerns have been raised about St. Patrick's Church and graveyard in Green Castle, with fears of structural damage and grave disturbance. There are worries about the health of the local community, including children, teachers,

1:00and staff, at our Lady of Lords Primary School. The priests are concerned about potential land and water contamination, as well as airborne toxins from the mining operation. They feel a duty of care to protect the school community from these risks. The intervention from the priests, supported by Bishop Donald McKeon, is a significant development in the ongoing public inquiry. They are calling for a one mile exclusion zone around the churches and the school to safeguard these important community and religious sites. Their aim is to protect church lands and properties entrusted to their care. Daredian Gold, the company behind the proposal, states that all issues are being examined at the inquiry and that they are proposing a modern, regulated underground mine. They claim extensive assessments have been completed to protect public health, local buildings and the environment, and they welcome dialogue with stakeholders.