Deenihan urges defiant turfcutters to accept compensation packages

Defiant turfcutters have been warned that they are breaking Irish and European law by working on protected bogs and have been urged to accept compensation packages.

Arts Minister Jimmy Deenihan made the plea yesterday after turfcutters in two counties confronted gardaí while working on bogs at the weekend.

Turfcutters yesterday insisted they would continue to work on their lands, as they had done for generations.