Cllr Sheahan unrepentant according to Sunday Times article

Continuing the story about Limerick Council leader John Sheahan’s call for an ‘open season’ on hen harriers (see here, here and here), the following article has appeared in today’s Sunday Times (thank you to the contributor who sent us the copy). 

Here is a transcript:

Conservation groups in Ireland and Britain have called for a councillor’s resignation after he asked for open season to be declared on hen harriers, a rare bird of prey.

John Sheahan, the newly elected cathaoirleach of Limerick County Council, made the remark in an interview with the Limerick Leader newspaper where he was commenting on the restrictions placed on landowners in Special Protection Areas (SPA).

He said the October budget should be the deadline for the government to address this issue “and if nothing happens by then ‘open season’ should be declared on the hen harrier”.

Following the remarks, Jimmy Deenihan, the minister for arts and heritage, wrote a letter to the councillor, which he received on Friday. Deenihan said Sheahan’s “comments in the media recently were extremely unfortunate as they may be construed as an incitement for people to break the law and harm these birds”.

The hen harrier is one of Europe’s rarest birds of prey. The letter declares that anyone who harms these birds or deliberately destroys their breeding or nesting habitats will be liable to prosecution. The minister continued that it would be “useful” if Sheahan could publicly clarify that he did not condone any such activity.

The councillor told The Sunday Times that he owns SPA land near Glin in Co Limerick. He said that this issue was a personal concern to him but that he was speaking as a public representative.

Sheahan said that the bulk of responses he had received following his remarks came from overseas. He said he understands the reaction of conservation groups but “they need to understand that it’s a two-way street and that we all have to live together”.

The Raptor Persecution Scotland blog published the article with Sheahan’s comments on its website and called for his resignation. The bloggers said they were astonished by the councillor’s remarks.

Sheahan sent a statement to everyone who contacted him saying he did not intend to imply that the bird of prey be hunted down. He said his comment was meant to be seen in the context of his political battle with the Irish government about landowners living in protected areas.

His response did not impress the Scottish group. “Somebody with such a disgraceful attitude to wildlife and to the law that protects that wildlife should not be in a position of power and influence”, it responded.

An online petition calling for the councillor’s resignation has received more than 1,100 signatures to date. People from countries as far away as Brazil and South Africa have added their names to the appeal.

Sheahan, however, does not regard the issue as a resigning matter. “I possibly upset a lot of people in relation to the hen harrier. It was a remark made in frustration rather than anything else”.

He said people in west Limerick were “at their wits’ end” dealing with marginal land that is difficult to farm at the best of times. “What they are looking for is a certain plan to be put in place to shore up the losses they are incurring from being designated as a particular area for the hen harrier”.

Sheahan is also a member of the Irish delegation on an environmental commission in the EU which represents local and regional government in the EU’s policy formation and decision-making processes. He denied his remarks were inappropriate given this role. He said: “I represent Ireland on the committee of regions and I think I do a good job there”.

Conn Flynn, development officer at the Irish Wildlife Trust, said that he was appalled at the comments. “It is disturbing that individuals with that mind-set are representing Ireland on a European level”.

The Trust which has also called for Sheahan’s resignation, is concerned about the impact of his statement. “When you say ‘open season’ when representing the public, it is completely and utterly irresponsible”, added Flynn.

John Lusby, raptor conservation officer at BirdWatch Ireland, said that predators such as the hen harriers were vital for a well-functioning ecosystem. “Without them, the ecosystem wouldn’t be in balance. They play an essential role in our countryside”, he said.

The government designated six upland areas as special protection areas following a 2007 finding by the EU Court of Justice. It said that Ireland failed to protect certain birds of prey, including the hen harrier, in line with obligations under the Birds Directive.

If you haven’t already done so, please consider signing the petition calling for Sheahan’s resignation: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358/804/673/