Coillte robs farmer of his tractor

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | news report

Saturday January 27, 2007 19:39

by Coillte Reporter

The following is another account of Coillte bullying at Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork. Coillte now are in dispute with three parties at this site.

In 2001, Seamus O Sullivan, Droumsullivan, Bantry, Co Cork (086/2364655), was carrying out works with his Ford County tractor, with attached winch, on behalf of a company at Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork, who have land leased from Coillte at this location.

On leaving the leased site, and while on route through the Coillte track, (right of way to leased site), leading to the public roadway, Seamus’s tractor developed a puncture in one of it’s wheels. Seamus parked the tractor, off the Coillte (forest) track, and planned to come back for it later. (It is important to say, at this stage, that the number plates of the tractor were attached to the tractor, when Seamus parked it).

Some days later, Seamus returned to find that his tractor was missing. Seamus contacted the Forester, Mr Richard Delahunty (086/2301517), who told him that agents of Coillte, giving Seamus the contact details, removed his tractor. Seamus contacted the Coillte agents who told him that they removed the tractor on Mr. Delahunty’s instructions. Seamus’s tractor was in perfect working order and in no way would appear to be abandoned.

Surprised by Mr. Delahunty’s previous instructions to remove the tractor, the Coillte agents again rang Mr. Delahunty from the site to confirm their instructions, as in their opinion, the tractor appeared too good to be taken away as scrap. Again Mr. Delahunty confirmed that it should be removed, so they started the tractor, drove it up onto a lorry and took it away. The agents informed Seamus that the tractor was crushed and exported as scrap. Seamus later recovered the winch, which was attached to the tractor, at the agent’s premises.

Seamus then informed the Garda in Bantry of this, who directed him to Dunmanway Garda Station. Some time later, Garda Fehily, Bantry, and Seamus visited the area from where the tractor was taken. On examination of the area, Garda Fehily discovered both tractor number plates, down behind a bank, where the tractor had been parked. Garda Fehily took the number plates to Bantry Garda Station.
It must be noted, that on request from Seamus at a later date, at Bantry Garda Station, these number plates “ could not be found”.

Seamus, not knowing about the FSC Conflict Resolution Mechanism, issued legal proceedings against Coillte to recover his tractor. A stiff reply came from Coillte to the effect that if he said anymore about the matter, they (Coillte), would sue him for the cost of removing the tractor from the wood. To date, Coillte have not settled their dispute with Seamus O Sullivan.

In conclusion.
Coillte are engaged in a number of conflicts with different people at this location for the past 4 to 5 years. These people were not aware of the FSC principles, nor did Coillte or anybody else make them aware of them. The various conflict situations have had a huge affect on the people involved. Huge financial costs have been incurred, and relationships have been seriously damaged. It must be said, that Coillte have seriously damaged the social fabric of this community, and have put huge pressures on the local people unnecessarily. I believe, that all the issues could have been sorted out, if the principles of the FSC had been implemented, but instead Coillte opted to go down the bullying and scaring road.

Related site: http://www.fsc-uk.org/about/principles/

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Comments (6 of 6)

Coillte continues bullying at Nowen Hill, West Cork.

by Court Reporter

Fri Feb 09, 2007 17:14

As can be seen from this photo, Coilte are continuing their bullying of local people in West Cork, by placing 24 hour security at Nowen Hill, West Cork.

Skylink and Company Limited, who have a legally held lease with Coillte in these woods, and also a local farmer ,who owns land in this same wood , are now denied access by Coillte.

Coillte seem to be a law unto themselves, and also seem to have the law in their pocket.

What are the Auditors who certified Coillte for their FSC cert doing about this ?.

http://www.fsc-uk.org/about/principles/

Coillte goes before Auditors

Mon Feb 05, 2007 21:20

These cases in which several local people are involved in disputes with Coillte, are now going before the Auditors who gave Coillte their FSC certificate.

Well done !

Its about time someone brought Coillte to task, and be answerable for abusing local comunities and robbing them of their rights.

not surprised

by Jason

Tue Jan 30, 2007 20:08

I once worked for coillte in the early 90's and they are the most underhanded and decietful employer I have ever worked for, they have been and continue to be bullys, they broke contacts for two week periods with employees when they were about to become permanant and treated staff who were permanant disgracefully - they would not get away with it today. They are money mad and once sent a slip of paper in our wages asking us to let them know if we were aware of any valable property they owned that they were not aware of, for example sand pits etc. They are a law unto themselves and I hope this man takes legal action against them and wins.

Strange happenings

by T

Tue Jan 30, 2007 18:16

This is certainly very suspicious and looks like Coillite or an individual in that organisation has some sort of vendatta against this person.

I notice the incident happened back in 2001, which makes it even harder to investigate with so much time elapsed.

I think this incident is instructive to us all that when anything happens to try and record all the facts whether it be by writing in down, getting witness and or making photographs of all said items.

Coillte in breach of their FSC cert.

by FSC Watch

Tue Jan 30, 2007 10:46

This is a despicible act by Coillte. There has been ongoing problems involving different people and Coillte at this site. Coillte are totally in breach of FSC principles in this case, and all other cases at this site. Coillte did not envoke the Dispute Resolution Mechanism, as required under the principles of their certification.

As a result , these people have suffered huge losses and have been draged through the Courts, when all issues could have been solve if Coillte had abided by their certification rules.

Yet again, another case of bullying by Coillte our State ( private) forestry service.

Please see related link for FSC principles

:http://www.fsc.org/en/about/policy_standards/princ_crit...ria/6

Coillte bullying

by West Cork

Sun Jan 28, 2007 13:48

This matter should be brought to the attention of the IFCI.

Please see related link below.

Related link: http://www.irishforestcertification.com/

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Coillte robs farmer of his tractor

Comments (6 of 6)