A 71-YEAR-OLD Limerick farmer who broke wildlife conservation laws by clearing land came to court to face charges even though he was due to go on honeymoon the next day.
Harry Williams (71) pleaded guilty at Newcastle West District Court to charges under the Wildlife Act for clearing land, which he owned, near his farm in Doon on May 20, 2022.
Judge Patricia Harney heard from Conservation Officer John Ryan that he observed a contractor hired by Mr Williams clearing land in the field in Doon on the date in question.
Mr Ryan told the court that 150 meters of wet habitat had been cleared beside a lake, affecting the nesting of waterbirds and risking the abandonment of established nests.
He also observed that another large area of scrubland had been cleared of gorse and reeds.
Mr Ryan told the judge that when he spoke to Williams, the landowner, he said that “he was planning to put horses on the land and he wasn’t aware of the restrictions about clearing land at that time”.
Mr Williams’ solicitor said his client “was aware of the restrictions on cutting hedgerows between the months of March and August and he never cut those at that time, but he did not realise that the prohibition also applied to clearing land”.
The solicitor added that Mr Williams had been very co-operative and had pleaded guilty and come to court while “he is due to go on honeymoon tomorrow having gotten married just before Covid”.
Judge Harney noted that the farmer had no previous convictions. The maximum fine which could be imposed is €5,000 but, under the circumstances, the Judge said, she would impose a fine of €250 with five months to pay.
