A Co Tipperary farmer and his wife who claimed they suffered ill-health due to radio frequency radiation from a mobile phone mast on their lands say they are prepared to go to jail rather than allow Vodafone on to their property to repair the broken mast.
John Ryan, from Golden, claims symptoms he and his wife, Rosie, suffered due to the operation of the mast have ceased since the mast stopped working in November last year.
Insp Paschal Feeney, of Tipperary town Garda station, confirmed they are investigating an incident of criminal damage to a mast in the Golden area.
He would not confirm a claim by the Ryans that a statement was taken from Ms Ryan on Monday and that gardaí seized a gun from their house.
The Ryans say they are puzzled as to why the gun was seized.
"We have said we will take whatever steps are necessary, even going to jail to stop Vodafone coming on the land, but using a gun was the last thing on my mind," Ms Ryan said. "We have no intention of harming anyone."
Mr Ryan said he had forgotten he even had a gun. "We never mentioned anything about a gun to anyone."
Vodafone, the company which operates the mast, said it was disappointed to learn that extensive damage was discovered to its base station in Golden. The company said the cause of the damage is being investigated.