Yachts removed to make way for marina

The row over the proposed £18 million marina in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, has taken a new twist with the "eviction" of yachts on moorings held by one of the waterfront clubs to facilitate the project.

The decision by Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company to cut the moorings of up to 10 yachts owned by members of the Royal Irish Yacht Club yesterday was condemned last night by the club's vice-commodore, Mr Fred Espey.

The vessels were removed to the Carlisle pier and were left in a "very unsafe" situation, which the club was trying to address last night, Mr Espey said.

Dun Laoghaire harbour master Capt Jim Carter supervised the operation, which was taken on foot of an order giving notice to quit, which had been issued last month by the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources, the Department of Finance, and Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company - the chief executive of the Harbour Company, Mr Michael Hanahoe, declined to make any comment yesterday.

Mr Espey claimed the harbour company was in breach of the terms of the foreshore lease issued for the 680-berth marina by the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.

He said that under the lease, the harbour company had to provide alternative moorings for vessels which had to be moved during pile-driving work to construct the marina, which is due for completion next March.

Earlier this week, a spokesman for four of Dun Laoghaire's waterfront clubs said that an informal agreement had been reached with the contractors of the marina, Marina Marketing and Management Ltd (MMM).

However, it appears only one of the two sailing clubs directly affected, the National Yacht Club, reached this agreement which would allow 32 boats owned by its members to remain on moorings until the end of this month.

Mr Espey for the Royal Irish Yacht Club said that it would only negotiate with the bodies statutorily charged with responsibility for the moorings and not with a contractor, and the harbour company had failed to listen to its concerns. Ironically, two of the three principals involved with MMM, Mr Tom Power and Mr Michael O'Leary, are members of the Royal Irish Yacht Club.

The Department of the Marine and Natural Resources said the decision was one for the harbour master and the order had been issued as part of the conditions of the lease attached to the marina project. It was understood that every effort had been made to facilitate the clubs, the spokesman said.