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. 22056Breach of habitats regulations (driving all-terrain vehicles in a Special Area of Conservation) · Co. Wicklow · 29 Nov 2020

Two men convicted for driving scramblers in Wicklow Mountains SAC

Two Wicklow men were convicted at Carlow District Court on 2 March 2023 for breaching habitats regulations after driving scrambler vehicles an estimated 7km across the Wicklow Mountains Special Area of Conservation on 29 November 2020, causing damage to vulnerable blanket bog habitat.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Convicted6 Mar
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe men were observed travelling onto the surrounding hills with their scrambler vehicles. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThey entered the Wicklow Mountains SAC and travelled an estimated 7km across protected habitat causing damage to vulnerable blanket bog habitat. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe incident followed a targeted patrol with An Garda Síochána on November 29, 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe National Parks and Wildlife Service took the case against the Wicklow men because of the damage scramblers can cause fragile habitats in the SAC. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe men pleaded guilty to breaching habitats regulations at Carlow Court on March 2. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtDistrict Court Judge Geraldine Carthy convicted the men on both counts. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtPatsy Glennon, BL, made a plea against conviction on behalf of the defendants. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceA fine of €1,000 for the first matter and €500 for the second matter was imposed for each of the men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceCosts of €1,500 plus VAT were awarded to be shared by the two men. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherRecreational use of all-terrain vehicles like scramblers and quads is prohibited in Special Areas of Conservation. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 6 Mar2023
    Convictedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Two convicted for driving scramblers in protected Wicklow Mountains

    Reports the conviction and sentencing of two men for driving scramblers in the Wicklow Mountains SAC, including the judge's remarks and the fact this is the second such conviction at Carlow District Court.

    convicted, male, irish (judged from name)convicted, male, irish (judged from name)