A Co Sligo farmer who has been convicted of assaulting hillwalkers who trespassed onto his land is to contest the general election
Mr Andy McSharry, who owns land close to Ben Bulben, said yesterday he would "fight for the right to private property without intrusion".
He said he had employed a solicitor to get the necessary forms and he would submit these as soon as the election was called. Mr McSharry (40) has been waging a campaign over recent years to keep hillwalkers off his land and has won the support of some neighbouring farmers.
He has erected very large "no trespassing" signs at gates to his farm, located at Gleniff Horseshoe close to Ballintrillick.
Hikers have traditionally been attracted to the area for its scenery and also because an old miners' road through Mr McSharry's farm was included in some walking guides.
In recent times, most hillwalking groups have advised members to avoid the area.
Mr McSharry said a lot of money was being given to tourism but there would be "nothing for landowners". He had agreed to negotiate with tourism bodies but nothing came of this. He believed the Government would try to change the law to allow people to walk where they liked in the countryside.
There had been a number of "ploys" such as a REPS payment for farmers who allowed hillwalkers onto their land. In April 2000, Mr McSharry was found guilty of two breaches of the Public Order Act and two counts of assault and was fined £200 and bound to the peace for 12 months.
Hillwalkers gave evidence of being threatened and assaulted on two different dates in 1999. The judge said a landowner's right to protect his property did not extend to physical violence or the use of "threatening, filthy, foul language".