Rumours and speculation around anti-social behaviour and drug dealing on the shores of Lough Erne which have been used as reasons to block public access to the water have been rubbished by angry residents who held a protest against the blockade on Saturday.

Busy quay

Ports Road, Newtownbutler which leads to a public quay on the shores of Lough Erne has been sealed off from the public with gates and boulders and residents have called on the area to be left back the way it was.

The quay was used to launch boats, fishing, water sports and to bring animals back from islands on the lough, but since the erection of the fence, all activity has stopped.

“Rumours of drug dealing on the shore are absolute nonsense and if there was any of that it’s up to the law to sort it out,” said a local resident

“There has never been any hassle, to be honest, and people are all very annoyed by it and they are decent honest people. It’s totally against the grain of community spirit.”

And residents have had enough, staging a protest at the “blockade” of the right of way to the water last Saturday, June 5.

Unhappy locals have said the public road has been “illegally obstructed” which has prevented residents from gaining access to the Lough Erne foreshore.

Signs objecting to blocking of the Ports Road have been erected throughout the Newtownbutler and Lisnaskea areas while a farmer was recently prevented from accessing his livestock on a nearby island from Ports Quay.

In what can be seen as an escalation in the situation 50 to 60 local people staged the protest against the blockade at the erected fence.

Cannot recall

Eamon O’Harte, who has lived on the road his entire life, cannot recall a time when the Ports Road was closed.

Speaking about the claims of anti-social behaviour and drug dealing, he dismisses them saying: “All that stuff never happened, anything of that sort of any time.

“I remember 20 years ago an electric fence was stolen down the road. It’s the only thing I ever remember. There are no issues. It’s a ridiculous story of people bringing in drugs on a boat.”

Continuing, Eamon said: “The road into Ports Quay leads to Lough Erne and there has always been open access to the water and there was a turning circle at the end of the road.

“All during my life back to the seventies we were down there as children and as I say there was no blocking. Anyone could go down. Cots used to dock there and take cattle over to an island.”

Eamon said maps dating as far back as 1900 show the public road and he said the blocked road is even more frustrating with the recent good weather.

The gathering last weekend was residents venting their frustration at the ongoing blockade. If people want to reach the foreshore they now have to travel to Derryad or Bun Jetty, three miles out of the way.

“The facts of the matter is we want the status quo restored that people can have the right of way to access Lough Erne at Ports Quay.

“It would be nice to see it developed when this is over and that could be a long term plan to see the site tidied up with picnic tables and better facilities and people could use it. That’s what the local people would like to see done with it.”

Police were in attendance at the gathering last Saturday with a spokesperson saying: “Police were called to the Ports Road, Newtownbutler on Saturday, June 5 at approximately 6.40pm following the report of a large gathering of people close to a property in the area. Police attended to ensure there was no breach of the peace and that current Coronavirus restrictions were being adhered to. Police spoke to those in attendance and the crowd who had gathered dispersed peacefully.”

Attempts have been made by The Impartial Reporter to speak to those who have erected the fencing, however, these have been unsuccessful.