LANDOWNERS ORDERED TO REMOVE FENIT FENCE

KERRY County Council has served notices on five landowners at Fenit Island, ordering them to remove fences that prevent the public accessing popular walking routes on the island.

On May 4 the council served the notices on John Murphy of Fenit Island; Liam Kathleen and Kit McCarthy of Fenit Island and Seamus O’Sullivan whose address was given as Bindon Street, Ennis, Clare.

The notices give the five people eight weeks to remove fencing which the council says was erected without permission.

Each of the five landowners have also been given four weeks to pay €250 to meet expenses incurred by the council in dealing with the matter.

The notices have been issued on foot of a ruling that was delivered by An Bord Pleanala almost two years ago when the planning board declared that permission was required for the fences.

The erection of two metre fences – electrified in some parts – which prevent people accessing coastal paths on the island led to a number of protests in the locality.

In 2012 landowners secured a permanent injunction from the district court banning trespassers from entering their property.

Kerry County Council also ruled in favour of the fences declaring that they were not an unauthorised development.

However, the council’s decision was appealed to An Bord Pleanala by the ‘Keep Ireland Open’ group – an organisation that campaigns for the right of recreational users to have access to the countryside.

The planning board overturned the council’s original decision and ruled that developments, such as fences, on any land that was habitually open to, or used by, the public in the preceding 10 years must have planning permission.