Farmers protest was on the wrong day

October 1981

A misunderstanding in relation to the date of a case resulted in a wild goose chase to Enniscorthy District Court for more than one hundred farmers, counsel for the prosecution and defence, and the defendant last week.

The case at which the farmers intended to protest was not actually listed for last Wednesday’s sitting at all, and was instead listed for a special sitting on Friday.

Wexford Co. Council is prosecuting [NAME WITHELD] for non-payment of rates. The Co. Wexford Executive of the IFA decided to organise a ‘silent protest’ in response.

Farmers arrived in large numbers to the courthouse last Wednesday, with many of them carrying placards. And within the court, counsel Paul Gilligan (for prosecution) and Sean Ryan (for defence) sat patiently by as other court business was dealt with all morning long, before Mr Ryan rose just before lunch to ask if he could mention ‘ the rates case’.

In response, the Court Clerk called a different rates case, involving Enniscorthy Urban Council, which ended up being struck out.

Mr Ryan then clarified what he was referring to. Both the Court Clerk and Justice Dermot Dunleavy looked puzzled until it dawned on them that counsel was referring to the farmer’s case listed for the Friday.

Another problem arose then however, as both counsel said they had not been informed of the special date and would not be available on Friday, due to other commitments.

Justice Dunleavy said the case would be called on Friday but he would ‘ look favourably’ on an application for adjournment then if an application could be made by a colleague on either counsel’s behalf.

As news of the mix-up filtered through to protestors outside the courthouse, some grumbled about time wasted, while others adjourned to a nearby hostelry. All resolved to return to court on the correct date, whenever that may be.