Former US president Donald Trump has been invited to be present at a High Court hearing regarding the sand trap fencing at his resort in Doonbeg, Co. Clare.
This invitation has been extended to Mr. Trump by the Irish Environmental protection group, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE). They are taking legal action against the Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in west Clare for constructing this fencing, which occurred in 2022.
Mr. Trump is currently on a trip to his properties in Scotland and Ireland, and is due to arrive in the State on Wednesday for a short stay in Doonbeg. FIE have asked him to stay in Ireland until the 15th of May, when the case will be brought to the High Court.
FIE are claiming that the defendants put a fence at the base of the dunes, consisting of large wooden pallets set into the ground side-by-side with a fine nylon mesh stretched across them. This was removed after Clare County Council issued a letter, and FIE began proceedings under Section 160 of the Planning Acts for unauthorised development.
FIE further allege that a network of these fences still exist along the top of the dunes, and are asking the court to make orders for their removal. Director Tony Lowes sent a letter to the resort in Doonbeg, addressed to Mr. Trump, suggesting that he stay in Ireland and attend the hearing.
Mr. Lowes spoke of the importance of conservation and environmental groups in the letter, which opened with ‘Dear Donald’, and mentioned his kind offer in 2014 to support FIE in their opposition to a wind farm which they declined.
The letter ended by asking Mr. Trump to consider staying in Ireland for the High Court Hearing, as ‘it would be an opportunity for you to learn about the concerns of environmental groups and the importance of conservation’.
