Turf cutters appeal prosecutions under habitats protection law

Gerry Gearty and Sean Beirne  are challenging the legislation under which officers sought to access their lands at Cloneen bog in Longford. File photo: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie

Two Co Leitrim turf cutters will argue in the Supreme Court that they should not be prosecuted under habitats protection legislation for allegedly refusing to allow wildlife officers to access their bogland.

The appeal should be resolved as soon as possible, a panel of three Supreme Court judges said, as Ireland is the subject of European infringement proceedings for allegedly failing to take action to halt peat cutting within certain areas of conservation.