Gardaí quizzed council worker over hedge-cutting

Cork County Council is preparing to go to court to vigorously defend cutting roadside hedges during the ‘off-season’ after gardaí launched an investigation into an incident involving the local authority in West Cork.

It has emerged that a council employee was questioned by gardaí after a member of the public made a complaint to them and the Parks & Wildlife Service about cutting which took place in the Clonakilty area.

The cutting happened last April, which is normally prohibited by legislation designed to protect nesting birds.

However, the council will say that it carried out the cutting as a matter of health and safety and is therefore exempt from such legislation.

Aidan Weir, who is acting head of the council’s roads and transportation directorate, said resurfacing works were to be carried out in the area at the time.

It was decided before they started that nearby hedges would be cut back to allow space for the resurfacing crews to work safely.

Mr Weir said it was also done for the safety of local people who might be walking in the area.

“A complaint was subsequently made to the gardaí and the National Parks & Wildlife Services. We are satisfied that we were perfectly within our rights to carry out such work,” Mr Weir said.

“If [the gardaí] decide to take this case to court we will fight it all the way.

“There is a provision in the legislation that local authorities are exempt if cutting is done for health and safety reasons,” Mr Weir added.

Under the Wildlife Acts, hedgerows may not be cut during the period from March 1 to August 31 each year to protect birds. Councillors in Cork are trying to constrict that season.