Old Head of Kinsale: protester gets suspended sentence

Saturday April 05, 2003 14:17

by Sean O Seafraidh - Cork Peace Alliance

A prominent member of the Cork Peace Alliance has received a seven month suspended jail sentence for “assisting” in the cutting of a fence at the exclusive Old Head of Kinsale Golf Course last year. James McBarron (above) was before Bandon District Court yesterday (Fri, 4th April) having been held in custody overnight after the adjournment of his case by Judge James O’Connor.

Mr. McBarron strenuously denied the charges. Eight members of the Cork Peace Alliance gave statements to Mr. McBarron’s solicitors reinforcing his defence and three of them gave evidence in Court on his behalf.

The Old Head Golflinks has been the scene of a bitter dispute for several years following the closing off of public access to the headland by the owners of the golf club - the millionaire O'Connor Brothers from Kerry via the USA.

The Old Head of Kinsale is one of the most scenic areas in Ireland and part of it is a protected bird sanctuary. It is also a popular spot for hill walking, rock fishing, rock climbing and whale-watching.

For hundreds of years the people of Cork, Kinsale and elsewhere have enjoyed the Old Head of Kinsale but this has been blocked off since the construction of an exclusive golf course there in 1997. It costs around €65,000 to join the golf club and a days golf will set you back around €250 minimum.

Mr. McBarron was convicted purely on the evidence of two gardaí and on the basis of previous convictions, all related to political activity.

At one stage a member of the Cork Peace Alliance asked to be allowed address to court and pointed out that there were at least five CCTV cameras overlooking the fence and despite this no video evidence had been produced in court. Golf Course manager Jim O’Brien said that the evidence was no longer available as the tapes had been scrubbed (conveniently). Gardai, who had brought cameras to every previous protest, said they’d left them behind this time. This evidence (or lack of it) was ignored.

Photos above show cameras circled which directly overlook the point where the fence was cut. The second photo shows the security hut with arrow pointing to cameras. The same cameras can be seen in photo three from outside the wall. These cameras had a birds eye view of the point where the fence was cut, yet this evidence, which would have totally cleared James McBarron, was not used.

Also note golf course security men covering their faces.