The Long Road Home

Night Boat by Liz Cusack

t’s always difficult trying to report on an ongoing court case, especially when it’s the High Court.

So, after our brief summary of last week’s head-to-head with Greystones fisherman Ivan Toole and harbour master Bernard Gallagher about the long-promised berth for his commercial vessel, we thought it best to just have a state of play for this week’s report.

The hope being that by stripping this down to the bone it might actually make some sense.

So, for those looking for the facts and figures without the fizz and the fury…

The High Court case against local fisherman Ivan Toole was listed again in the High Court yesterday.

The harbourmaster’s injunction seeking to have Ivan removed from the North Wall Pier was listed for hearing. Peter Shanley BL, instructed by Clare-Ann Temple of Benville Robinson Solicitors, on behalf of Ivan Toole, advised the Judge that the Interim Injunction Order previously granted against Mr. Toole could be vacated as the matter was settled at a mediation on Wednesday.

It is hoped that a mediation is going to take place with the Harbourmaster and Wicklow County Council as soon as possible so Ivan’s long term position in the harbour can be secured.

The case before the High Court between Ivan Toole and Wicklow County Council relating to promises made by the Council to accommodate the local fishermen when the harbour was redeveloped in 2008 is ongoing and no doubt taking its toll on those involved.

Ivan has been fishing out of Greystones Harbour for five generations at this stage and is currently defending a Circuit Court and High Court case taken by the harbourmaster against him as the Council failed to provide the facilities for the local fishermen.

It is clear that no ordinary working man wants to find himself in the Courts defending his right to earn a livelihood in his local area. Ivan and the commercial fishermen have significant local support and the community wishes to see the long and unbroken tradition of the fishing community continue in Greystones.

No doubt the fishermen will be relieved they can remain in the Greystones Harbour for the moment, however the overall battle for certainty and fishermen rights within the Harbour and Marina is far from over.

You can dig deeper into the long history of this dispute right here.