Supreme Court to make decision on farmers’ markets and street trading

FARMERS, food producers and street traders will keenly follow a case scheduled for Supreme Court consideration on Wednesday, May 11.

A panel of Supreme Court judges will consider the argument of Macroom-based Toby Simmonds, who trades under the name Real Olive Company, that he has a right to trade in an area known as The Parade in Kilkenny.

In 2007, the High Court found against Mr Simmonds, upholding Kilkenny Borough Council’s view that he has no right to trade in that area. Now the Supreme Court will consider Mr Simmonds’s continuing view that the Kilkenny Markets Act of 1861 should take precedence over the 1995 Casual Trading Act.