This article is from page 6 of the 2006-01-10 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
CLIFFS of Moher trader, Gerry Cahill, has said he will sue Clare County Council for loss of income should they succeed in obtaining a high court injunction preventing him from trading at the Cliffs.
This follows comments last week by Clare County Council’s Director of Services, Gerard Dollard, who reaffirmed his commitment to take legal action to prevent casual trading at the site of the €30 million interpretative centre.
Speaking to the Clare People , Mr Cahill also criticised Mr Dollard for refusing to meet with the traders. He has also critisised the management of the project in general, particularly those in charge of the walkway and car park facilities.
“When you are dealing with Clare County Council I don’t think much thought goes into it,” said Mr Cahill. “This could be sorted out easily if they just sat down and talked with us. He (Gerard Dollard) has never responded to us at all.
“We have spoken to a number of local representatives who say that he is determined to bring it to court. Ger Dollard has a bee in his bonnet about us traders when the whole place in a mess up there,” continued Mr Cahill.
“They wouldn’t get away with it if they were in the private sector and their jobs depended on it. The people visiting the Cliffs are angry, some say that they won’t be back.”
While Mr Cahill is campaigning to prevent traders from being barred from the Cliffs, he does believe that some regulation is necessary.
“We have asked verbally and in writing for proper regulation and legalisation so why have they never done it?” he asked. “If some of the traders don’t want to be legalised then I’m not responsible for them. I’m representing those who have licences and want to trade legally.”
This is not the first time that Clare County Council has gone to court in order to remove traders from the Cliffs of Moher. In 1994 six traders were granted permits by the council after a court battle.
“They have already lost on this issue in the past. We have a right to work and a right to make a living, and they have already established this precedent,” said Mr Cahill. “If we go to court and lose, we lose our jobs, if they go to court and lose they are just wasting more of the taxpayers’ money.”