The operator of the luxury, five-star Carton House hotel and golf course in Co Kildare caused significant environmental damage to an EU-protected habitat when vegetation was allegedly illegally cut because wasps were “stinging ladies”, a court has heard. Belmullet Hospitality, which operates Carton House, Maynooth, Co Kildare appealed convictions and fines related to the cutting of vegetation within a Special Area of Conservation without ministerial consent before a sitting of Naas Circuit Criminal Court. The company was found guilty of two offences contrary to European Union Habitats (Rye Water Valley/Carton Special Area of Conservation) Regulations 2018 at a sitting of Naas District Court in November and fined €8,000.
READ MORE: All workers in Ireland will be entitled to payment worth up to €770 within months READ MORE: Spain holiday tragedy as Irish girl, 11, dies after falling from seventh floor balcony in Majorca Belmullet Hospitality had pleaded guilty to the topping and clearing of rough vegetation within the Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at Carton Demesne on August 9-12, 2021 without ministerial consent and the related offence of procuring a contractor to carry out such work. However, counsel for the company, Henry Kelly BL, appealed the convictions and fines on Monday on a number of procedural grounds relating to the proof of documents and evidence. “There isn’t a scintilla of evidence linking what occurred to the defendants,” Mr Kelly argued.
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