CUTTING down hedgerows to stop cattle wandering landed a Limerick man in court for breaking the law under the Wildlife Act.
John Hanley Snr, of Grange, Kilmallock, pleaded guilty to the offence before Limerick District Court in Kilmallock of breaching the Act, which is designed to protect nesting birds and breeding wildlife at certain times of the year.
David Lyons of the National Parks and Wildlife Service gave evidence of visiting land leased by Mr Hanley at Lemonfield in Patrickswell on August 23, 2023.
He told Judge Patricia Harney that 350 metres of hedgerow on the roadside had been “removed entirely” while further lengths had been severely cut back.
“He told me that he was stock-proofing and he was unaware of any restriction,” Mr Lyons said in evidence.
Mr Lyons agreed with Mr Hanley’s solicitor that he had been “very co-operative” and admitted immediately that he had done the cutting.
He also agreed with the defence that Mr Hanley’s cattle had been escaping before he carried out the hedge cutting.
“The position is that he did not know about the legislation but he does now,” she told the court.
The solicitor told Judge Harney that her client “is not in good circumstances. He is not a farmer as such. He leased this bit of land and he co-operated fully with the wildlife service”.
She said it would have “been difficult to bring a prosecution if he had not admitted it”.
Judge Harney convicted Mr Hanley and fined him €300.
