An allegation that stones were being removed from a Blue Flag beach and sent to Britain for sale in garden centres was made at a court hearing at Achill Island, Co Mayo, yesterday.
Mayo County Council sought an order from Judge Mary Devins restraining Mr Thomas Lynchehaun, Sandybanks, Keel, Achill, from removing material from Keel strand. Mr Lynch ehaun denies the allegations.
Mr Michael Browne, solicitor, representing the council, said that it had received reports that stone was being removed from the stone bank which was protecting the beach and an area covered by a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) order.
Mr Browne said that the defendant was involved in the stone business. More than 60 large bags containing beach stones had been found at his house and at Corrymore on the island.
He told the court that two local gardai, Garda Eamon Berry and Garda Peadar Howley, had recently stopped a lorry carrying a consignment of stones believed to have been destined for Cheltenham, England, for sale in garden centres there.
Mr Dan Hurley, solicitor, representing Mr Lynchehaun, who sought an adjournment of the case, said that his client was prepared, without prejudice, to give an undertaking that he would not remove stones from the beach between now and the date fixed for the hearing.
When Mr Lynchehaun gave a sworn undertaking that no stones would be removed before a full hearing of the case Judge Devins said that the undertaking should cover material from all beaches in the area. She adjourned the case until September.