'There is an element of brass neck' — Kerry farmer fined for building track on protected land

The matter against the track machine contractor was struck out

The site in question was not inside the Killarney National Park but it was part of the ‘Killarney National Park, MacGillycuddy’s Reeks and Caragh River Catchment SAC’, a special Area of Conservation protected under the regulations.

Serious damage was caused to a wet heath habitat in a remote area near the Gap of Dunloe, Killarney, after a sheep farmer brought in a heavy machine to construct a three-metre wide track, a court was told.

Tim O’Connor of Dunloe Upper, Beaufort, Killarney, has been convicted and fined €2,500 after he pleaded guilty to constructing a track with a track machine in a Special Area of Conservation at Dunloe Upper without permission.