Fri Dec 12, 2008 1:22 pm
Car-seat fisherman put lives at risk
Gorey Town Councillor Robbie Ireton has said it is a disgrace that the bollards have been taken away because of a few people complaining.
“The bollards were put up for the safety of people near the pier.”
The reasons they were put there initially was because of the concerns of local people.
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The bollards prevented cars from being driven onto the pier, protected fishermen who used the end of the pier and stopped boyracers who played chicken on the pier. In recent times four cars have gone into the water off the pier.
Cllr. Ireton said the bollards had been removed as a result of a motion put forward at a district meeting in Ferns last Friday by Cllr. Jimmy Fleming. According to Cllr. Ireton, a number of these ‘car-seat fishermen’ as he called them, approached Cllr. Fleming to try and get the bollards removed so they could continue their fishing.
Cllr. Ireton said these fishermen drove onto the pier, put their lines in the water and then sat in their cars to stay out of the cold.
“Because of these few fishermen the safety of a lot of people has been put in jeopardy. I don’t know why people who don’t know the town get involved with issues in Courtown.”
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Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:18 pm
Fri Dec 19, 2008 1:15 pm
Fri Dec 19, 2008 5:47 pm
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Anglers are not to blame
By Rachel Cave
THE SEA anglers in Courtown are disgusted that they have been branded as car-seat fishermen, who don’t care about the lives of people, by a local councillor last week.
Joe Byrne, Secretary of the Courtown Angling Association, told the Gorey Echo: “We have no issue with the pier being closed off at the end, but we do think that the bollards should blend in with the pier and are not temporary.
“There have been scurrilous accusations about us in recent days and we are really hurt that we have been implicated like this.
“The bollards were probably put in place with good intention but it was done without consultation.”
The anglers also stated that, with the boulders in place, there would be no free access to the Harbour and that emergency services and those with disabilities would be prohibited from going onto the pier.
A dredger also needs access to the pier to take out the silt so that the fishing boats can have access to the Harbour.
Mick Redmond, who has an angling business, said: “The bollards should not have been put in place without proper consultation and it was done in haste.
“We have been losing business as well. We have anglers coming from all over to fish here and they are offended by the remarks which have been made.”
Cllr. Jimmy Fleming, who was also implicated for being responsible for having the bollards removed, said: “It’s an over-the-top statement to make. No-one should be blamed for what has happened in recent times much less we don’t want to be hurting families.
“There needs to be a certain process that is gone through before these things can be put in place, otherwise people could start blocking off roads.
“We have never endangered anyone’s life by being parked on the pier.”
One angler, who has a heart condition, said that he needs his car nearby in case of an emergency when he is fishing and to prevent him from getting too cold. He said that he very seldom sits in the car, but needs it nearby.
Councillor Robbie Ireton this week apologised for his remarks saying: “If I upset people, I am sorry but that’s the way that I feel about it.”
He added: “I don’t have a problem with fishing at the end of the pier but it’s not a very safe area to fish. “I would like the bollards right the way around the pier. They need to be that big so that they can take the impact.”
“There’s not even a sign that says danger in the area. I am aware that the dredger needs access to the harbour, but it has no problem moving them each time.”
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Mon Dec 22, 2008 1:04 am