MEATH COUNTY Council is facing charges related to the alleged destruction of vegetation by spraying it with a herbicide.
At Navan District Court yesterday the case against the council was adjourned after the court heard the charges will be fought by the council and a special date will have to be set for the hearing.
The council faces six summonses brought under the Wildlife Act 1976 which allege the destruction of uncultivated vegetation at six locations in the county by spraying it with a herbicide earlier this year. Three of the summonses allege the council procured the commission of an offence by engaging Damian Lennon, trading as Geosynthetic Monitoring, to destroy the vegetation by spraying it with a herbicide.
Mr Lennon of Killaree, Threecastles, Co Kilkenny, is a co-defendant and also faces six summonses. All offences are alleged to have taken place during the period beginning March 1st, 2008, and August 31st, 2008. The prosecution is being taken by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Judge Tom Fitzpatrick adjourned the case until March 4th when a hearing date will be set.