Turfcutters protest at Galway courthouse as trial date fixed for December
Galway Bay fm newsroom - A group of protestors carrying placards and banners staged a peaceful protest near the steps of Galway Courthouse again today, in support of four men facing trial in December for allegedly cutting turf in protected bogs in south Galway last year.
The men are the first to be prosecuted since the EU habitats directive imposed restrictions on turf cutting on 53 Irish bogs, which are designated Special Areas of Conservation.
Michael D’Arcy (43) from Ballycahill, Killimor, Padraic Byrne (57) from Main Street, Killimor, Pat McDonagh (43) from Portumna and Tony Porter (44) from Woodford, face prosecution under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, in relation to alleged turf cutting at Clonmoylan Bog, near Killimor in south Galway on May 22nd, 23rd, and August 21st last year.
In court today, the men's solicitor, Gearoid Geraghty said there would be three separate trials as there were three separate alleged incidents on three separate dates and each would take two to three days.
Mr Justice Raymond Groake listed the matter for trial on December 17.