Action against hillwalkers adjourned

A case in which a prominent Wicklow landowner is seeking to make an injunction against a group of hillwalkers permanent was adjourned to February at Wicklow Circuit Court yesterday.

Mr Neil Collen is seeking to have a temporary order, restraining named locals and members of the Enniskerry Walking Association from crossing his lands between Enniskerry and Glencree, made permanent.

Mr Collen is also seeking damages against a local newspaper, the North Wicklow Times, which reported on the dispute between Mr Collen and the walkers over access along a route known locally in Enniskerry as Lamb's Lane.

Representing himself yesterday, the chairman of the Enniskerry Walking Association, Mr Niall Lenoach, told Judge Pat McCartan that he would establish that the route was a traditional right of way enjoyed by many locals over a number of decades.

Mr Lenoach asked for an adjournment to allow him to marshal papers relating to access along the route.

On an undertaking that he personally would not walk on Mr Collen's lands pending a full hearing, Judge McCartan adjourned the case until February 10th next.

The action against the North Wicklow Times was listed for Monday next.

Mr Lenoach, a school teacher, is also seeking to have Wicklow County Council and the Attorney General conjoined as defendants in the case.

Mr Lenoach said Wicklow County Council was currently preparing a schedule of walking rights of way throughout the county as part of its statutory duties and had an interest in the case.

He said the Attorney General had an interest in ensuring that Wicklow County Council was able to carry out its function.