Impunity for environmental crimes sees our hills burn

Despite an annual gorse-burning ban which came into effect on March 1, fires have been reported in Mayo, Kerry, Wicklow, Donegal, Louth and Down. It is just one element of an ambivalence towards rules governing how we treat wildlife, nature and the environment, writes Ciaran Brennan

A fire broke out at the Eagle's Nest, Five Mile Bridge, Killarney National Park recently. Kerry Fire and Rescue Service crews quickly contained the fire with just half an acre destroyed. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan

During the first day of nationwide checkpoints on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, under new Level 3 covid-19 restrictions which limited travel to absolutely necessary, gardaí reported huge congestion, tailbacks and traffic jams. 

Obviously, quite an extraordinary number of people thought their journeys were absolutely necessary or maybe some thought the restrictions were for other people.