Courts / Kerry / Report

Skellig boatman row comes before High Court

Summary

Sean Feehan, a 50‑year‑old boatman who has taken passengers to Skellig Michael since 1980, has brought a High Court case against the Office of Public Works (OPW) after the OPW revoked two of his annual permits to land visitors at the UNESCO site. The revocation, announced in January, was justified by the OPW on the basis of safety concerns linked to Feehan's 2015 convictions for three offences under the Merchant Shipping Act, for which he was fined €850. Feehan argues the decision is unlawful, breaches his constitutional rights, and exceeds the OPW's powers. He seeks declarations that the revocation is invalid and damages. On Wednesday, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan granted a temporary injunction preventing the OPW from issuing two of four permits to other parties, with the matter to be revisited next Tuesday. Feehan maintains his safety record is exemplary and that other boatmen with similar convictions have not had permits revoked.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Skellig boatman row comes before High Court. Charges or matters: three offences under the Merchant Shipping Act. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• September 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2016-04-13 Publication

Why: The OPW said it was doing this because of convictions Mr Feehan received after he pleaded guilty at Cahirciveen District Court in September 2015 to three offences under the Merchant Shipping Act. CNI source report

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Read the original CNI report