Jarveys seek compensation to abandon business as stand-off escalates

KILLARNEY’S jarveys, locked out for a second time this year from the Killarney National Park, are seeking compensation from the Government to abandon the centuries-old trade.

A bitter stand-off between jarveys and Killarney National Park authorities further escalated yesterday when the jarveys were blocked from entering the park.

The row centres on the jarveys refusing to fit dung-catching devices to their jaunting cars.

The jarveys are adamant they will not try out or fit the devices for health and safety reasons.

They are calling on the Government to offer compensation to enable them to get out of the business.

“The same thing should apply to us as the drift net fishermen. The Government should pay us to get out of the job because it would be impossible to operate with the dung-catchers,” said Diarmuid Cronin, spokesman for about 40 jarveys in the Muckross area.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) expressed disappointment at the jarveys’ refusal to co-operate and said it had once again been compelled to take action.

The jarveys were first refused access to the park in July because of their “complete lack of co-operation”, according to a NPWS statement.

The NPWS said it excluded them then for a short time as they were operating illegally, given that none of their jaunting cars held a valid permit which required the use of dung-catchers.

In July, the High Court refused to grant a continuing injunction to jarveys which would restrain the NPWS from barring them from the park.

However, the NPWSallowed the jarveys back into the park in the hope that the jarveys would engage with them on a “peaceful and mutually agreeable introduction” of dung-catchers.

Judge Peter Charleton, after giving judgment, suggested the parties should meet and move forward in a peaceful way in an attempt to break the deadlock.

As a result, Kerry county veterinary officer Paddy Fenton was appointed as an independent facilitator.

However, Mr Fenton’s efforts have not been successful because of “lack of engagement” from the jarveys, the NPWS claimed.

The matter is due to come before the High Court again in the coming weeks.

Gardaí patrolled areas of Killarney National Park yesterday and there was no sign of activity by the Muckross jarveys.

Mr Cronin said it was “total nonsense” for the NPWS to say the jarveys were not prepared to engage with them.

“They [NPWS] are holding to the line that dung-catchers have to be introduced. Judge Charleton told the sides to go away and talk about the matter, but the NPWS won’t hear of anything only dung-catchers,” he said.