Seven people are being summonsed to appear in court for alleged criminal damage to a genetically-modified crop site in Co Wexford, The Irish Times has confirmed.
In the first case of its kind in the Republic, the opponents of GM technology, including some members of the Green Party, are due to appear at New Ross District Court on February 9th. Among those due to appear is Mr John Seymour, author and organic farmer, who is a strong opponent of GM foods.
The seven are also due to be summoned for trespass on the farm of Mr Martin Foley, of Hilltop, Ballyhack, Co Wexford, whose test site for GM sugar beet was damaged on June 21st last.
He was testing the crop under EPA licence for the US multinational Monsanto.
The site had been seriously damaged a few days previously but these summonses do not relate to this incident. After the second incident, Mr Foley made a complaint to the Garda.
While Green party politicians Ms Nuala Ahern MEP and Mr John Gormley TD, and Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins, were at the site when the alleged damage occurred, it is understood they will not be summonsed. They had been at a public meeting held by opponents of gene technology in the area prior to visiting the crop.
A Monsanto spokesman said yesterday it was a Garda matter and no question of "Monsanto pursuing the case" or paying the legal costs of any party. "We, like everybody else, made a statement. A Garda file was prepared and the DPP made his decision. We will not be commenting any further."
Mr Seymour, who has an organic farm some miles from Mr Foley's farm, said he had yet to be served with a summons.
He told The Irish Times that he had admitted he "pulled up a few beets".
He was asked by gardai if he would do it again. "I said I would do it again."
