One of two council employees being investigated by Kerry County Council for alleged planning irregularities has this week been served with summonses by the Minister for Marine and Natural Resources.
Mr Donal Mangan, Killarney town engineer, has been asked to answer a total of four charges by the Minister, Mr Frank Fahey.
The case is to come before Killorglin District Court in early February. Two of the summonses relate to unauthorised tree felling and two to alleged breaches of a felling licence.
The felling of over 420 trees allegedly happened on January 28th and 29th last year at Mr Mangan's lands near Beaufort.
Tree felling does not come under the planning laws of the county council and is a matter for the Minister's Department. However, Mr Mangan's employers, Kerry County Council, served a warning notice on him last year about unauthorised site clearance works on the land.
If convicted under the forestry Act, individuals can face fines of £50 a tree. For breaches of the licence, penalties include a replanting programme.