A message from the Barroughter & Clonmoylan Bogs Action Group
“SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH THE FOUR MEN. Come to Loughrea on Wednesday March 6th at 11am. Stand up for your rights too.”
Showing posts with label Barroughter and Clonmoylan Bog Action Group. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barroughter and Clonmoylan Bog Action Group. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Thought and Action is encouraging readers and supporters to attend the court hearings in large numbers on 6th March. These four men are not criminals. Last year the Siege of Clonmoylan took place.
http://www.galwaynews.ie/30344-turf-cutters-facing-court-bog-row-escalates
Turf cutters facing court as bog row escalates
February 14, 2013 - 7:00amby Ciaran Tierney
The war which has raged on Co. Galway bogs over the past year looks set to escalate ahead of the new turf-cutting season after four contractors were issued with summonses this week for using machinery in defiance of European Union designations.
In the first case of its kind in Ireland, Gardaí called to the homes of four contractors in South East Galway on Tuesday night and issued them with summonses for cutting turf at Clonmoylan Bog, near Portumna, on August 21 of last year.
The four men are due to appear before Loughrea District Court on Wednesday, March 6, when they can expect to receive support from hundreds of protestors from all over the country who are enraged that they no longer have the right to cut turf on their own land.
The summonses relate to using machinery “without lawful authority” for the “extraction or mining of natural resources”, including turf or peat, contrary to Section 35 (1)(B) and Section 67 (2) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
It will be the first time anyone in the State faces prosecution for cutting turf on one of the 53 Special Area of Conservation (SAC) bogs where the EU designations came into effect at the start of last year.
One of the men who received a summons on Tuesday, Michael Darcy, had his machinery seized and later burned out during an emotional 24-hour siege between local people, Gardai, and National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) rangers at Clonmoylan Bog, near Portumna, in June of last year.
Mr Darcy had already considered legal action against the State as a result of the destruction of his machinery and his summons has enraged members of the Barroughter, Clonmoylan, and Ardraigue Bog Action Group (BAG), which represents 900 families in the area.
Mr Darcy has cut turf for local families for three decades and his father was also a contractor who worked with local people on the three bogs.
See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Well done to the hundreds of patriots, who confronted Enda in the rural village of Abbey in County Galway. In this village is the grave of Fr John Fahy and no doubt Fr Fahy would be proud of this noble protest. Abbey is of course a few miles from Clonmoylan Bog where the Siege of Clonmoylan took place earlier this year. In late June, local people were forced to defend themselves and their private property from the NPWS ‘Rangers’. These ‘rangers’ are working at the behest of the EU and not for Ireland. They are working for interests that are not our own. Enda is doing the same thing.
The Irish are a sovereign people and the tradition of cutting turf on private, legally owned bogs will continue. The EU can sod off.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/kenny-surrounded-by-200-bog-protesters-3296606.html
DOZENS of gardai had to protect Taoiseach Enda Kenny from protesters last night after up to 200 surrounded him, heckling and attempting to jostle him.
The Taoiseach was officiating at the opening of Abbey Community Centre in Galway where hundreds of people who were protesting about the controversial turf-cutting ban gathered to confront him.
The crowds blocked off the road to the centre, forcing the Taoiseach to get out of his car and walk with a garda escort.
Protesters shouted abuse, heckled and attempted to jostle Mr Kenny as he made his way into and out of the centre, forcing gardai to form a protective circle around him, keeping protesters at bay.
The Taoiseach had been made aware of the protest before his arrival and had offered to meet with a small delegation to discuss their concerns. However, this offer was rejected by protesters.
Dermot Moran of the Barroughter and Clonmoylan Bogs Action Group said up to 300 protesters had gathered to confront the Taoiseach on his arrival.
- Caroline Crawford
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