Courts / Kerry / Report
Skellig Michael permit row returns before court
Summary
Sean Feehan, operator of passenger boats to Skellig Michael, has challenged the Office of Public Works (OPW) in the High Court, arguing that the revocation of his two permits is unlawful and breaches his constitutional rights. Feehan, who has run the 'Pace Arrow' and 'Naughty Lady' from Ballinskelligs since 1980, claims the OPW's decision is unfair and seeks declarations that the revocation is invalid. The OPW, citing safety concerns, revoked the permits following Feehan's 2015 convictions under the Merchant Shipping Act for operating vessels in a manner that could endanger passengers, operating without an appropriate licence, and failing to ensure a qualified master. The OPW also cited incidents in 2012 and a total fine of €850. Feehan's lawyers requested that the injunction preventing the OPW from issuing new permits and the order allowing him to land passengers remain in place pending the full hearing. The case is set to continue before Mr Justice Anthony O'Connor.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Skellig Michael permit row returns before court. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- September 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2016-05-03 Publication
Why: The OPW, which is responsible for the management and protection of the monastic site, said it was doing this because of convictions for operating a vessel in a manner that might be dangerous to the passengers having regard to the conditions in the waters between the mainland and the island, operating a vessel without an appropriate license and and failing to ensure the master of one of his boats was properly qualified. CNI source report
Places mentioned
- Cahirciveen
- Cahirciveen District Court
- High Court
Topics
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