THE NATIONAL PARKS and Wildlife Service is appealing for information on unauthorised turf-cutting which took place recently at protected bogs in Co Meath and Co Westmeath.

The bogs concerned are the Moneybeg bog, Clareisland bog and Ross bog near Lough Sheelin, which have been designation Special Areas of Conservation.

Speaking about the incident, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan said that concerned local landowners had report the damage to the department:

Land-owners have brought to my department’s attention that turf has been cut on their bog plots without permission. For the sake of the preservation of these precious sites, I ask that people will bring any such unauthorised cutting to the attention of the gardaí.

The NPWS is appealing for anyone with any information to contact the garda station at Castlepollard, Co Westmeath on 044 9661112.

Read: Turf cutters take High Court action to halt their prosecution >

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