Concerns about dog control and lurching aired at Mayo meeting

THE ongoing concern about dog control and the practice of lurching was discussed at a meeting in Roundfort Community Centre hosted by Mayo IFA, with more than 100 landowners in attendance.

The meeting heard of many cases of unsavoury encounters that have occurred recently and in the past, with calls for for more support from An Garda Síochána on the ground to support the communities of south Mayo and north Galway where there is a prevalence of such encounters.

Landowners also said that the local Garda have been very helpful where incidences have occurred in the past, but a quicker response time is needed when dangerous confrontation takes place

Mayo IFA chairman John Lynskey chaired the meeting, which was attended by Superintendent Deirdre Gill along with Sergeant Flannery and Sergeant Keane from Claremorris Garda Station, new Mayo TD Paul Lawless and local councillors Patsy O'Brien, Damain Ryan, Richard Finn and Michael Burke. National IFA sheep committee chairman Adrian Gallagher was also in attendance.

The local politicians gave a commitment to raise the issue with Mayo County Council to seek more support for the dog wardens in the county, with Supt. Gill also pledging to work with the local people to curb the action of a very few who have created fear among the local community

The meeting discussed the code of practice agreed with the garda authorities and IFA covering personal safety, reporting and observing where such problems arise.

The IFA also distributed No Dogs Allowed signs and asked landowners to erect the signs immediately.