Sunday 1 November 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. 22409Cutting turf on a protected Natural Heritage Area without consent (s.19 Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000) · Co. Offaly · 11 May 2020

Man fined €1,000 for cutting turf on protected bog in Offaly

Pat McEvoy, 51, of Birr, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Nenagh District Court to cutting turf in the Monaincha/Ballaghmore Natural Heritage Area raised bog without consent in May 2020 and was fined €1,000 by Judge Elizabeth McGrath.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
11 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTurf was extracted from the Monaincha/Ballaghmore Natural Heritage Area raised bog without consent. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe bog spans counties Laois and Tipperary. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe turf cutting was witnessed on 11 May 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe NPWS Divisional Manager entered the bog at 7.30am. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe NPWS Divisional Manager identified himself as an authorised person under the Wildlife Acts and requested a name and address from McEvoy, which was initially refused. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationMcEvoy subsequently gave his name and address to a member of An Garda Síochána who arrived shortly afterwards. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Nenagh District Court on 9 February 2023. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Elizabeth McGrath imposed a fine of €1,000. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe site was designated as a Natural Heritage Area in 2005 for its unique raised bog habitat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherTurf could only be cut in the NHA with Ministerial consent, and no such consent had been issued. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherMinister of State Malcom Noonan TD said the case exemplifies the work of a renewed NPWS in securing prosecutions for the protection of nature. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Feb2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Man fined for cutting turf on protected bog after surveillance operation

    Reports the guilty plea and €1,000 fine imposed at Nenagh District Court on 9 February 2023, details of the NPWS surveillance operation that witnessed the offence, and a statement from Minister of State Malcom Noonan TD.

    convicted, Pat McEvoy, 51, male, named, irish (judged from name)Pat McEvoy