‘End protection racket at fairs’
There are claims that a gang from outside the area is seeking money from stall-holders to allow them operate at the annual August 15 fair, in Kenmare, Co Kerry, tomorrow.
Locally based senator Mark Daly (FF), who has said sinister elements demanded around €300 from individual stall-holders last year, yesterday said the only way to deal with the problem was to have workable, casual trading bylaws.
“The current state of near anarchy when it comes to street trading in Kenmare has to stop,’’ he stated.
Kenmare-based Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen (FG) also called for more regulation to counteract the problem.
“In other towns, committees have been formed to regulate such fairs and maybe the chamber of commerce in Kenmare could follow the example of such towns,’’ he added.
Describing the situation as “ridiculous,’’ Mr Connor Scarteen said he had approached the gardaí and Kerry County Council on the issue, but there were difficulties if people did not make formal statements of complaint.
Gardaí said they can only act on foot of complaints.
The council has encouraged people to report any incidents to gardaí and also said that if it became aware of any incidents it would report them.
Attempts to resolve the general street trading issue in Kenmare have been going on for more than 30 years, during which time the amount of trading has increased considerably.
Kenmare Chamber of Commerce has sought a meeting with the council which had proposed to allow casual trading in the square six days per week.
But there were objections to the council’s draft plan, including the number of car parking spaces the trading area would occupy. Legal issues still before the court also arose.
Earlier this year, the council withdrew the draft casual trading bylaws and decided not to proceed with the extinguishment of market rights which were acquired by the council a number of years ago.
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