Court hears of islanders’ reluctance over outsiders

TOURISTS may be embraced with open arms on the Aran Islands but when it comes to someone moving in permanently with them things can be a little different, a garda has claimed.

They even refused to bend the rules when a new garda sergeant started looking for a home in which to settle among them with his wife and young family, Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Matthew Deery, was told.

“There is a reluctance by the islanders to sell property to outsiders,” retired Garda Sergeant Christopher Joyce said in the Circuit Civil Court. “I searched for sites for a new home but found none for sale.”