Port of Waterford to close gates against fishermen

THE PORT of Waterford is preparing to close the gates on a section of quay in the city which it has sold to a property developer, locking out fishermen who use it to land daily catches.

The Port is preparing to lock up the North Wharf section of its quay from tomorrow, Wednesday, forcing fishermen to land their catches at the nearby Bellview section of the port. Fishermen say the alternative landing area is already exceptionally busy and totally unsuitable for them.

One company failed in its attempt to take an injunction against the Port of Waterford last week.

The O’Flaherty Brothers, who employ over 100 men, took their case to the Supreme Court last Friday but failed to stop the port evicting them tomorrow.

Seamus O’Flaherty said last night they will go back into court again this week, if the Port locks them out of the site. “We didn’t get the injunction on Friday. But our legal advice is that if we are locked out, we should then go back into court and try again.

“We have also been given an early Supreme Court date for an appeal against a High Court case which ordered we leave the site. That case is now likely to go ahead in March,” Mr O’Flaherty said.

Last year, the Port of Waterford sold its north wharf to a private developer from Cork. Fishermen from across the south east land their catches there daily.

And while the Port says fishermen can use nearby Bellview Port for such work and have known about the sale for up to two years, large companies such as O’Flaherty Brothers say it’s not a viable alternative.

Seamus O’Flaherty of O’Flaherty Brothers says they don’t want to go back into court on the matter again. “We’d prefer to get an agreement with the port that we’d be allowed to use the area, pending our Supreme Court appeal which should be heard in March. We have been told the new owner doesn’t plan to start work on this site for a year in any case.

“We employ 100 men and this stop and start situation is no way to run a business. The Government has been sitting on the sidelines and watching this develop for the past two years. Its time now for either Martin Cullen or Pat The Cope Gallagher to get involved,” Mr O’Flaherty said.

A spokesman for the Port of Waterford said they have no comment to make on the matter at this point. A spokesman for Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, said he would do what he can to help the situation.

“The Minister’s twin objectives are to support the port in whatever way possible as well as developing the North Quays area. The Minister’s view is that achieving these twin objectives is doable with cooperation on both sides.

“We are urging those on both sides to continue to talk and work through this. The Minister will do what he can to help,” the spokesman added.