Coast Guard sides with millionaire landowners

cork | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Thursday August 26, 2004 13:28 by Jim - Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign

Just who does Mr. Eddie Butler represent?

A representative of the Irish Coast Guard went on West Cork 103FM radio this morning and launched an attack on a long-running campaign to restore public access to the Old Head of Kinsale.

Mr. Eddie Butler, who was introduced as being from the local Coast Guard, described the campaigners as "criminals" and launched a verbal assault on the people from all walks of life who merely want to enjoy the beauty of the Old Head of Kinsale.

The Old Head, as most of you will know, is a place of spectacular beauty, a unique historical location and a sanctuary for flora and fauna. For centuries people have been able to stroll along the Old Head, fish from it, whale-watch, picnic and generally take in the breathtaking scenery of West Cork. In recent years an exclusive Golf Links was built on the headland and the way has been barred to the public by razor wire, barbed wire, high fences, CCTV cameras and intimidating security personneland gardai.

This morning John Jefferies of the Free the Old Head Campaign was being interviewed on West Cork 103FM when Mr. Butler was introduced to the programme.

John Jefferies questioned the remit Mr. Butler had to speak on behalf of the Coast Guard but Butler continued with his diatribe which accused the campaigners of everything from "endangering local jobs" to "urinating on the greens".

So exactly what remit does the Coast Guard have to speak up for the wealthy O'Connor brothers? What connection does he have with them or their company Ashbourne Holdings or with the Old Head Golflinks?

The Coast Guard is a state body funded by the Irish taxpayers. They have every right to be at the Old Head of Kinsale to perform their job of protecting the public, but they have no right to take sides in a dispute which has nothing to do with them. Is Eddie Butler speaking for the Coast Guard or for Mr. O'Connor? Does the Coast Guard have an official position in relation to public access to the Old Head of Kinsale (and other coastal headlands) or is Mr. Butler speaking for himself.

When challenged he backtracked and said he was speaking as a "civilian". Does anyone know the truth?

The Free the Old Head of Kinsale Campaign certainly intend to seek answers from the Coast Guard and the Minister for the Marine.

It's less a case of "what the butler saw" than "who the butler represents"