Dung catchers row - Jarveys lose legal battle

The High Court ruled that the National Park and Wildlife Services (NPWS) is entitled to insist that jarveys using Killarney National Park will have to use dung-catching devices for their horses.

The jarveys were banned from the park after they refused to use the dung catchers. They argued that the NPWS had no authority to ban them from the park, as this was discriminatory. They contended that the ban was an attack on their property and personal rights, as well as an infringement of their constitutional right to earn a living.

The judge ruled against them on all points. Mr Justice Liam McKechnie noted that the NPWS has a duty to manage and maintain the park for the enjoyment of the public, and he expressed regret that the jarveys had refused to operate the dung catchers even on a trial basis.