Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 12618Environmental offence (destruction of SAC limestone pavement habitat) · Co. Clare · 26 Mar 2022

Farmer fined for destruction of rare limestone habitat in Co Clare

Martin Feeney, a Co Galway farmer, was convicted at Ennis District Court of two offences relating to the destruction of 4.3 hectares of limestone pavement habitat in a Special Area of Conservation on the periphery of the Burren, Co Clare. He was fined €3,000 and ordered to pay €6,307 in costs.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Sep
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMore than four hectares of limestone pavement habitat was destroyed. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe habitat is in a Special Area of Conservation. (rte.ie)
  • what10 acres of limestone habitat was destroyed as a result of the accused's actions. (rte.ie)
  • what4.3 hectares of limestone pavement was impacted by reclamation works for agriculture. (rte.ie)
  • whatLimestone pavement is listed as a priority habitat in the Habitats Directive. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe works involved removal of limestone pavement blocks and infilling of material from a nearby drumlin. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe lands were re-seeded for approved agricultural grassland. (rte.ie)
  • whatA wall was built of very large limestone boulders on the lands. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe huge boulders most likely came from the SAC in the vicinity of the works. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe damaged lands are on the periphery of the Burren in Co Clare. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe lands are in the Moyree River system SAC, one of five SACs in the Burren. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe works were carried out between 26 March 2022 and 10 August 2022. (rte.ie)
  • investigationNPWS Regional Manager Helen Carty went on a helicopter to view the changes and satellite before-and-after images were handed into court. (rte.ie)
  • investigationIn January 2024, two gardaí were required to assist with a site visit as Feeney was extremely uncooperative. (rte.ie)
  • chargeFeeney pleaded guilty to two offences connected to the adverse impact on the limestone pavement. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Ennis District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge Adrian Harris recorded the conviction. (rte.ie)
  • courtThomas Wallace O'Donnell BL, instructed by State Solicitor for Clare Aisling Casey, prosecuted on behalf of the Dept of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Harris imposed fines of €3,000 and costs of €6,307. (rte.ie)
  • otherFeeney has been farming the lands since the late 1980s. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Sep2025
    Sentencedrte.ie, first report
    Farmer fined for destruction of rare limestone habitat

    Reports the sentencing of Martin Feeney for two environmental offences after agricultural reclamation works destroyed limestone pavement habitat in the Moyree River SAC, Burren, Co Clare.

    convicted, Martin Feeney, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Feeney