Gardaí called in twice after fishermen locked out

GARDAÍ were called to the Port of Waterford twice yesterday after irate fishermen who were locked out of their normal landing ground vented their anger.

The section of quay on the North Wharf has been used by up to 20 trawlers to land catches daily for several years. The 13-acre site was sold to a property developer last year.

Fishermen have been on notice for over a year that they would be required to vacate the site and while there are no immediate plans to begin work on the site, the Port of Waterford locked the gates leading to the quay and put security personnel on the barrier from 5pm on Monday.

Gardaí were called yesterday morning when a truck was parked at the entrance, blocking the site. They were called a second time when fishermen removed boxes from their boats and carried them over a wall at the site.

Last night, fisherman Seamus O’Flaherty appealed to the Department of the Marine or the Department of Transport to appoint an independent arbitrator to assess the situation.

“The Port of Waterford are saying they will allow us to use Belview Port, which is close by. But we don’t feel the facilities there meet our needs. We are so confident the facilities are unsuitable that we want an independent arbitrator to have a look at it and we will abide by his ruling.

“Landing is fine. But landing takes up only a tenth of our time. We also have to maintain these boats and we can’t just bring them home with us,” Mr O’Flaherty said.

The O’Flaherty Brothers failed in a High Court bid last year to prevent the sale of the site. They have since lodged papers with the Supreme Court.

They still hold out hope that the decision to sell the land might be overturned.