FARMERS and landowners in Greystones, Co Wicklow, have asked Wicklow County Council to impound more than 20 horses from a travellers' encampment adjacent to Greystones Rugby Club.
Mr John Roberts, a farmer who rents land which is part of the old Burnaby Estate from the county council, said the horses had caused severe damage to fields of oats and fodder beet valued at many thousands of pounds.
Access to the encampment has been made through the practice pitches of Greystones Rugby Club, where locals claim the horses are also wandering. A spokesman for the club was unavailable for comment yesterday.
Mr Roberts said he and other farmers had rented the land from Wicklow County Council at a rent of "over £100 per acre, but that figure was nothing compared to the losses due to crop damage". The actual site of the encampment is on set aside land, but Mr Roberts and other farmers have claimed that in the evenings "the horses appear to get through locked gates and fences to wander around fields where crops are growing".
On a number of occasions last week, Mr Roberts arrived with local gardai but said he was told by the travellers that the owners of the horses were not present.
Mr Roberts said he wanted to make it clear that he had no innate prejudices against the travellers. "Unfortunately, what always happens is that some members of a minority group get the whole group a bad name. Having respect for people's rights works two ways. If we respect them, they should respect our rights, but they are just laughing at us".
When the council was asked to comment yesterday, a spokeswoman said that the situation was being closely studied by officials and a statement would be made at a later date.