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Gardaí in Killarney last week said they
may take court proceedings arising from alleged complaints
about a jarveys’ protest.
The nature of the complaints have not been
divulged, but reportedly relate to a continuing protest outside
the entrance to Muckross House.
The tourist amenity is the main focal point
for visitors to Killarney National Park. Some visitors, it
emerged, are not going into Muckross House because of their
reluctance to pass a picket by jarveys at the gates.
Gardaí did not elaborate on the nature of the
reports, but Inspector Barry O’Rourke said they were considering
proceedings.
The jarveys have been protesting each day at
the gates since they were locked
out of the national park on October 14. The dispute
centres on their refusal to attach dung catching devices to
their vehicles. Gardaí, meanwhile, are on duty at the gates
each day.
Management at Muckross House, one of the country’s
leading visitor attractions, said the dispute was having a
serious impact on business. Reporting a "noticeable drop"
in business, management said they are determined to keep the
shop and restaurant open, but warned there could be implications
for jobs if the dispute was not resolved soon.
It’s the second lock-out of jarveys from Killarney
National Park this year on the controversial dung catcher
issue. At present, there is no sign of a resolution as the
stand-off continues.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS)
is adamant the jarveys will not be allowed access to the park
unless they fit dung catchers to their traps and jaunting
cars.
The jarveys say they will not do so for health
and safety reasons, claiming the devices, also called horse
nappies, could cause their horses to bolt or act unpredictably
in other ways.
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