More intimidation from Coillte at Nowen Hill, West Cork.

by John D Mon Feb 12, 2007 13:32

Contact the link below. Coillte should abide by FSC principles. However, they are a law unto themselves, and have broken these principles with many people, all over the country.

Their tactic is to try and wear you down, financially and emotionally.

They have the Courts in their back pockets

Dont let them do that to you..., justice will win out, sooner or later !.

http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/380dc68...79983!OpenDocument

by the digger Mon Feb 12, 2007 14:44

the Guards will probably decline to take any action "leaving it to civil remedy". You should immediately obtain an injuction seeking a court order compelling Coillte to remove the obstacle.

by Duck - me fein Tue Feb 13, 2007 00:59

The rights of the individual don't rate highly here in Ireland you will have to fight for as must Justice as you can get. Good luck. The courts can be fair - or not. But do not give in Beir bua

by WE Sat Feb 17, 2007 20:29

I had to go to Nowen today to the leased Coillte area.

On arrival, I found a Coillte contractor, in my land, increasing the height of an earthen/stone mound which Coillte had already placed across a roadway , on my land. ( previously reported to you).

Last Tuesday, I was talking to Richard Delahunty, local forester about this. I told him that I had a map of the boundry, supplied by their own Planner in 1990, and that I requested a meeting with Coillte on site to confirm all this. I was more than surprised today to find that Coillte were once again in my land, and raising the hight of the offending obstacle, without even contacting me. Please see photos of myself sitting in front of the machine trying to stop them from placing further soil/stones in my way. Also is photo of local forester, Mr. Jim O Connor, ( blue jacket), supervising works.

These latest acts by Coillte are the last straw. Myself and the farmer whom Coillte will not give access to his land , managed to halt the digger, and are refusing to let it be taken off my land, until Coillte finalise all outstanding issues on Nowen Hill.

It is absolutely terrible that we have to take these measures in order to protect our rights.

Where are the FSC principles being applied here by Coillte ??

by we Mon Mar 05, 2007 09:40

Please see the following related link : http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/2006/11/24/Irish_Envi...ments

by Brian Sat Mar 24, 2007 14:23

Please see the following link which is relevant to Coillte, State bullies. Coillte are still continuing their illegal tactics at Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork.

http://www.fsc-watch.org/archives/?country~=Ireland

by Billy Idle Sat Mar 24, 2007 17:34

Heavy pressure applied by the governement ment that Coillte were given a IFSC (Sustaineable forestry steward certificate) before any Irish standards were even drawn up. I know this because I spoke a few years ago to a member of the certification board(sadly the lady is now deceased) and she informed me that the deceision was made thanx to state interference/bullying which meant that Coillte got it to under-pin its corporate image with little regard to how Coillte actually operates on the ground. Scientific data concerning environmental damage done by the reckless practices employed by the company such as aerial fertilization and clear -cutting in sensitive upland water catchements(which still goes on to this day) plus the use of banned pesticides on their mono-culture Sitka spruce plantations etc. was basically ignored. Not to mention some of their shady land-deals done to suit everyone from Shell in North Mayo to Meath Co Co. along the proposed Tara M3 route.The deal the did with CRH over Glending in Co. Wicklow is still i beleive under investigation by one of the planning tribunals.

by we Mon Apr 02, 2007 22:14

On Tuesday 27th March, while I was on my site at Nowen, I telephoned Mr Delahunty, Coillte Forester, and informed him that Coillte had no authority to come onto my Leased area from Coillte, and carry out any ground works.
However, on Tuesday night, 27/03/07, Coillte instructed their contractor, Mike Casey, to come onto the site, under the cover of darkness, and carry out the illegal roadworks. ( see attachments ). Coillte also instructed their contractor that it was up to him to go onto my private land and remove, physically, a digger machine which we had held there until Coillte had sorted out this problem. The contractor also removed this machine, under the cover of darkness, on Tuesday night last.

On Wednesday, 28/03/07, I was again on Nowen, and noticed the damage Coillte had done. I contacted my Solicitor about this, who informed me that Coillte had no right to do what they did, and that they were also in breach of Planning laws. I informed my Solicitor that I was going to reinstate the damaged land, which I did. I then informed Mr. Delahunty, Coillte Forester that I had reinstated the land, and instructed him to tell Coillte that they had no authority to come onto the leased land to carry out works.

Again, I reiterate, that this matter is now very serious. If Coillte contractors are continually instructed to hinder my access, and also to carry out excavation works on my leased site, I am fearful that a conflict situation might arise, resulting in health and safety of peronnell being breached.

Damage done by Coillte to my leased land

by we Tue Apr 17, 2007 22:42

Last week, Woodmark made public, their surveillance report on Coillte. Because of Coillte's inadequate dispute reolution procedure, a major CAR ( Corrective Action Requirement ), was issued against Coillte, in relation to the ongoing disputes local people have with Coillte at Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork.

Despite the audit findings, Coillte are still ignoring Woodmark, and are continuing their actions against individuals at Nowen Hill, who have legal rights.

Please see related link to Woodmark's audit of Coillte, go to the end of the article, and click on link to receive full audit report.

by wi Sat May 12, 2007 10:13

Coillte are continuing to ignore Woodmark's Corrective Action Requirement, 2006.6, in that they are continuing to lock stakeholders out of their legally held premises and right of way at Nowen Hill Dunmanway, Co. Cork , Ireland

by we Sun Jun 10, 2007 13:31

Coillte are continuing to breach FSC principles at Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork. Despite a Major Corrective Action Requirement issued by Coillte's auditors, Soil Association ( 2006.6), Coillte are still locking out stakeholders from their land at Nowen Hill. When this Corrective Action was issued against Coillte, they moved their 24 hour security away from the main road, into the forestry track. This was done intentionally to conceal their illegal actions. ( See photo).

This is disgraceful conduct from Coillte, who are disobeying their auditors, Soil Association, who cannot seem to enforce the FSC principles .

It appears that the whole certification process is only there in name only.

Further info Email: [email protected]

by WE Sat Jul 28, 2007 21:06

Your support would be very much appreciated at the Court House, Washington St., Cork City, Monday next , 30/07/07,at 10.30 am.

Coillte are trying to get a Court Order to have Walter Evans and Eugene O Sullivan jailed because Eugene was " trespassing " while going into his own land ( land which was given to the previous owner by Coillte), and Walter Evans for " trespassing" for going to his legally held land , leased from Coillte.

Some justice !!!

Your attendance on the day would be very much appreciated.

This type of State bullying must stop !

Contact : 087/2957042 for details.

by we Fri Aug 03, 2007 18:46

Kathy Sinnott recently visited Nowen Hill , Dunmanway, Co. Cork, to investigate how two land owners have ongoing disputes with Coillte.

Coillte have locked one farmer out of of his land, while depriving a family of their livlihood through fraud.

Kathy Sinnott on Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork

by ACA Fri Aug 03, 2007 19:30

For "more of it" see also at http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83611&comment_limit=0&c...03491 .

by Court Observer Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:19

Corporate bullying in the Courtroom.
Walter Evans was in Court again with Coillte in January 2008.

Strangely, the Court sitting in January 2008 was held " in camera" (private).

As Walter's barrister was reading out his affidavit, Coillte's barrister observed, and commented on, with excitement,that there was a reporter in Court.
Immediately, the Judge closed down Walter Evans's barrister from continuing reading out Walter Evans's affidavit!. The Judge was most abusive to Walter Evans's barrister.

However, at one point during this hearing, lawyers dealing with a different case entered the Courtroom in error, while Walter Evans's case was in progress. While these other lawyers were in the Courtroom, the Judge was most polite to Walter Evans,s barrister.

It would appear, that Coillte wishes to have this case with Walter Evans carried out in private , for some reason.

Also, there is a distiinct air of corporate bullying by Coillte against Walter Evans surrounding this case and related issues at Nowen Hill, Dunmanway, Co. Cork.

Walter Evans continues his struggle for justice.

Related Link: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/80152

by JD Wed Apr 30, 2008 21:37

Coillte should be ashamed of themselves. This type of behaviour from a State organisation is disgraceful.

Obviously Coillte had something to hide when they held the Court case in private.

Coillte obviously had the corrupt Judge on their side.

Coillte robbed Walter Evans of his living, and now they want to hide their evil deeds.

Where are the FSC principles now. Coillte's certification should be immediately revoked.

Keep up your struggle for justice..., the truth will out in time !.

by Martin Fri Jun 13, 2008 20:44

Sooner rather than later, the truth about Coillte's coduct will be exposed.

The world is watching.

by Coillte Watch Tue Aug 12, 2008 16:53

This intimidation should be reported to Soil Association, who are currently conducting an audit of Coillte.

Alternatively, report your issue with Coillte to 087/9847008.

by Ex Coillte Employee Sun Mar 15, 2009 15:58

Coillte, like Fas, should now be investigated. How come, Coillte can squirel away vasts sums of money in a pension fund called IFUT , while at the same time, pay nothing back to the State since Coillte were set up in 1988

It is alleged that Cillian De Bhaldraithe, who was an employee of Coillte, revealed certain information to the press around 2002/3 which did not please Coillte. Cillian was, allegedly sacked shortly after such revelations.

Cillian died shortly afterwards, allegedly suicide.

Was Cillian the whistleblower in Coillte ?

by Brian Fri May 01, 2009 10:30

Coillte have, for years, not paid a divedend to the State, even in good times.

Yet, Coillte are able to amass a fortune in a private pension fund, namely IforUT.

Coillte recently reported that their profits are now massively reduced., due to the down turn in the economy.

David Gunning's (Coillte's CEO) annul salary, however, rose from Euro 409,000.00 last year to Euro 489,000.00.

The question now is.., will Mr. Gunning now take a reduction in his salary in order to help this ailing ,so called State company, or will he (wrongly) say " Coillte is a private company, and the day to day running of the company is a private matter, and will be dealt with internally by Coillte".

Europe has already ruled that Coillte is a public entity, and Coillte and the Government should accept that ruling, and bring this State runaway organisation to task, once and for all.

See related link.

by Do Brien Fri May 01, 2009 10:52

See related link which confirms, (by Mr Walsh, TD), EU ruling that Coillte are a public entity.

by Michael Sun Oct 10, 2010 11:39

There are renewed investigations into how this whole case was handled at Nowen Hill, and how this man lost his business.