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EPA to investigate complaint about State response to peat extraction on protected bogs

The move from the environmental watchdog comes in response to a complaint from an environmental NGO about illegal cutting.

LAST UPDATE | 2 Mar 2022

THE ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG is set to investigate a complaint that State authorities have failed to protect Ireland’s protected raised bogs from illegal peat cutting.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action following a complaint made by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) under the EU’s Environmental Liability Directive. 

FIE argues that no effective action has been taken to date by Irish authorities to limit cutting and protect Ireland’s raised bog network.

The cutting of peat in Ireland’s active raised bog network was banned in 2011 to protect the internationally important sites listed as priority habitat for protection under EU law.

From our original 310,000 hectares of active raised bog, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) estimated in 2017 that just 50,000 hectares remain, much in “poor ecological condition”. 

Lines of cut peat on a bog in Co Galway Mechanically cut peat on bog in Co Galway, 2021 Niall Sargent / Noteworthy Niall Sargent / Noteworthy / Noteworthy

Continued cutting across raised bog network

According to the State’s most recent report to the European Commission in 2019, cutting was documented on 22 protected bogs, with the EU body outlining its concern in April 2020 that the ban on turf cutting has “not been met with an effective response”.

In its submission to the EPA, FIE said that this issue “represents a direct, persistent challenge to the rule of law in the EU” and requested that the agency “take immediate action to halt the ongoing environmental damage”.

The EPA told Noteworthy that it has commenced an investigation into the issues raised in FIE’s report and will engage with the NPWS to determine what information it holds that is relevant to the investigation.

“The EPA has made initial contact with the NPWS and they have been forwarded a copy of the report [from FIE]. Further engagement will take place in due course,” it said. 

The Department of Housing – under which the NPWS sits – said that “the NPWS is not under investigation by the EPA” and that “it will continue to liaise as appropriate with the EPA with regard to both organisations respective functions”.

280 plots cut on protected bogs in 2021

As part of its PEAT’S SAKE investigation, Noteworthy revealed in January that peat was illegally extracted from over 280 plots on EU protected active raised bog sites in 2021.

Our analysis – based on data released to the Irish Wildlife Trust via Freedom of Information – found that peat extraction took place at 320 plots per year on average in protected areas since 2012. 

Half of all the documented cases have taken place at just five protected areas. The key trouble spots where significant cutting still continues are Monivea SAC and Barraoughter SAC in Co Galway, Mouds SAC in Co Kildare, and Callow SAC in Co Roscommon.

According to data released by the NPWS, cutting was still taking place at 51 plots at Monivea Bog in 2021, despite the NPWS calling in 2006 for the cessation of cutting there due to the bog’s high levels of uncut high bog.

Mouds Bog in Co Kildare – the site with the second highest number of plots cut since 2012 – was also identified for immediate cessation of cutting by the NPWS in 2006. Yet, in 2021, cutting was identified at 38 plots at the large bog complex close to Newbridge.

Speaking in the Dail last May, the Minister for State Malcolm Noonan said that the NPWS routinely carries out patrols and site visits to monitor for extraction on protected bogs.  

 ***

As part of the PEAT SAKE series, Noteworthy has examined extraction of peat for horticulture and illegal cutting on protected bogs. You can read these articles here.  

Noteworthy will publish more articles over the coming months as it delves into decades-old enforcement issues around large-scale extraction of peat in the Midlands.

  ***

This article was written by Niall Sargent of Noteworthy. It was proposed and funded by you, our readers.  

Noteworthy is the investigative journalism platform from The Journal. You can support our work by helping to fund one of our other investigation proposals or submitting an idea for a story. Click here to find out more >>

We also have a number of climate and biodiversity-themed investigation proposals which you can view here.  

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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:07 PM

    Seven years what a joke

    231
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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:14 PM

    @Casper: Can only sentence what the max was at the time of the offence, in the 70′s.

    Legislation allows for bigger sentences now.

    47
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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:19 PM

    @Matt Connolly: well if that’s the case the law needs to be changed to allow for bigger sentences, it don’t matter what decade it was or is it still has the same impact on its victims and society as a whole.

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    Mute the phantom
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:25 PM

    @Casper: agreed. It must be possible to classify violent rapists (those proven to ever have offended) as on-going dangers to society and jail them at the discretion of the minister for justice.
    Could even apply to people who committed such acts abroad. Not a bad way to keep out people who have done so in other countries too.

    22
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:38 PM

    @Casper: it is my understanding that the judge made this 7 year sentence run consecutively to the 7 year and 10 months sentence he is already serving which is right and proper

    21
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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:44 PM

    @John O’Neill: well that’s good to know

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    Mute Dean Moriarity
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:34 PM

    Parents should be very wary of letting their kids play GAA. Far too much of this going on under the county banner.

    71
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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    @Dean Moriarity: don’t be silly you can’t paint every one with the one brush, lots of good people give of their time to these clubs day in and day out and well done to their commitment, but clubs do have a duty of care to make sure that volunteers are vetted and provided training in child protection

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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:53 PM

    @Casper: That’s what they used to say about the Catholic Church until the full extent of the paedophilia and cover up was revealed. The GAA is run along the same lines, unquestioning loyalty to the parish coach who has access to children via a position of trust. This is only the tip of the iceberg in the GAA.

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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:59 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: well if that’s true I would assume its historical, I don’t believe that would be the case in this day and age, and I hope that people keep coming forward and put their perpetrators behind bars where they belong

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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:08 PM

    @Casper: Agreed.

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    Mute Thomas Blackcat
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:15 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: Not happening now? That’s what the RCC and GAA swore then….and it’s still happening. People are both blind and stupid…..

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    Mute Casper
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:35 PM

    @Thomas Blackcat: sounds like you have some information or evidence of serious crimes if you do you better take it to the Garda, and if you don’t stop blowing smoke out of your arse

    31
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    Mute Ray Muller
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    Nov 10th 2017, 7:58 PM

    @Cultural Marxist:
    Perverts will infiltrate any organisation that will provide cover for their despicable criminal acts. Being a cultural Marxist perhaps you are aware of Bella Dodd?
    “In the late 1920′s and 1930′s, directives were sent from Moscow to all Communist Party organizations. In order to destroy the Catholic Church from within, party members were to be planted in seminaries and within diocesan organizations,” Dodd stated according to the affidavit.She also stated in her book “school of darkness” that “The homosexual and heretical pollution of the priesthood was deliberate and long in the making” and that she herself under orders placed over 1100 deviants into the church to destroy it from within?

    11
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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 8:32 PM

    @Ray Muller: Calling gay people perverts and deviant, you must be a Catholic yourself. When you graduate from primary school you may also learn that there is no link between sexual orientation and paedophilia, that is why your priests molested young girls as well as boys.

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    Mute Ray Muller
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    Nov 10th 2017, 9:32 PM

    @Cultural Marxist:
    Of course there isn’t, but there is a historically connection with pederastry, or man and boy, which is what apparently occurred in this case. Its also a tag peculiar that the world leading “gay” rights group, ILGA, reportedly harboured no less that 3 of these dangerous sicko groups in their ranks for years. They even had UN funding removed because of it!
    Just saying it as it is.

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    Mute Ray Muller
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    Nov 10th 2017, 9:40 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: Of course there isn’t, but there is a historical connection, Romans and Greeks with pederastry, or man and boy depravity, which is what apparently what transpired in this case.
    Its also a tag peculiar that the world’s leading “gay” rights group, ILGA, reportedly harboured no less that 3 of these dangerous sicko groups in their ranks for years. They even had UN funding removed because of it!
    Just saying it as it is. The truth shouldn’t offend anyone?

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Nov 10th 2017, 10:10 PM

    @Casper: My young fella plays hurling and as far as i am aware, there is no garda vetting (at our local club anyway). I often help out at things and no one has ever asked me to get garda vetted. The local parish council asked me to do some readings at the church regularly. And i had to be garda vetted. Its extremely strict at the church and so it should be with their disastrous record. So i do feel there is a risk at my GAA club that i didnt consider. Though i do accompany my son to ALL matches/training.

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    Mute Jumperoo
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    Nov 10th 2017, 11:25 PM

    @Sinead Hanley: Garda vetting is a requirement for all coaches and others involved with underage GAA teams, and has been for years. I don’t know to what extent you help out yourself, but maybe not to that degree? Would find it unlikely that your club doesn’t comply at all. Either way, it would probably be better for you to ask a club official than to throw such probably unfounded accusations around online.

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    Mute Sinead Hanley
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    Nov 11th 2017, 1:11 AM

    @Jumperoo: The fact is that even though my club are probably complying (as you say) with garda vetting etc, i as a parent have not been made aware of it. My son is with his club for 3 years since he was 4 and i have never heard a word about child “safety” except for the cul camps. I am not suggesting any problems with child safety but i think its important that the GAA highlight their stance from now on. I was taken aback when i read this article cos i hasnt considered it. Though i always accompany my child. There is a framed poster in our church for safety officers/people for children if u are concerned. Its not in our gaa club.

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    Mute Gearoidín Ní Fhiách
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    Nov 11th 2017, 3:05 AM

    @Sinead Hanley: Sinead, there is a legal requirement on every GAA club to have every coach, trainer or manager Garda Vetted. They are also obliged to undertake a Child a Protection course of which this subject matter is the primary focus. They must also undertake various coaching courses, but the first, the Garda Vetting is essential. It would not be possible to have every single person who turns up at a pitch checked, many are parents like yourself etc. Think about it. If your child is at a game and you’ve arranged another parent to take them home, and something sinister were to occur, there is nothing the GAA club could do to prevent that, if you follow. But a good club will take all and any precautions to ensure those with the closet contact yo kids, are safe. That said, these predators will always find a way. Can’t keep kids locked away, just in case.

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    Mute MacEochagain
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:13 PM

    More silence from Croke Park. They need to come out and reassure people things are done properly these days…. they had more to say about a certain testimonial dinner last week!

    #headinthesand

    35
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Nov 10th 2017, 7:39 PM

    @MacEochagain: this is happening everywhere. The aggressive atheists will tell you that the abusers all have white collars. Anywhere where adults are exposed to kids this can happen. All coaches are Garda vetted but this means little unless you have a record. I’m not sure what any organisation can say unless it’s a token apology. This is a societal issue.

    11
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    Mute Gavin Huban
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    Nov 10th 2017, 7:47 PM

    @Sean @114: societal problem caused by years of religious repression…..

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    Mute Cultural Marxist
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    Nov 10th 2017, 8:34 PM

    @Sean @114: What’s an ‘aggressive atheist’? Is it someone who shouts at nothing?

    6
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    Mute MacEochagain
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    Nov 10th 2017, 9:23 PM

    @Cultural Marxist: it’s a first cousin of a cultural Marxist.. ..

    4
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Nov 11th 2017, 12:52 AM

    @Gavin Huban: years of sexual repression maybe.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:41 PM

    That sentence is a joke! Three times that sentence would be a joke. Turns my stomach.

    34
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    Mute Paul O Riordan
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    Nov 10th 2017, 5:59 PM

    Appalling behavior from someone in a position of trust. His children are probably victims also. No winners

    16
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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Nov 10th 2017, 6:03 PM

    Its time sentences were changed, instead of protecting these people.

    6
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    Mute Brian O Reilly
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    Nov 10th 2017, 8:41 PM

    A pompous self denying paedophile ,No remorse ,no remission ,

    14
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    Mute Freecakes
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    Nov 10th 2017, 10:59 PM

    The Journal, I often wonder why you even bother with images. Why not show a photo of this s*umbag – we already have his name – so we know what he looks like when he gets parole in a few years.

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    Mute Martin Byrne
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    Nov 10th 2017, 11:57 PM

    @Freecakes: to protect his victims?

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