> It is against the law in Ireland to search for archaeological objects using a metal detector unless written permission has been given. Penalties can be up to three months in prison or a fine of up to €63,486 (£53,435).
Written permission from who? He was on his own farmland. You have to write a plea to the government to request permission to use a metal detector on your own land? And, if that's the case, are such requests usually granted? What's the rationale here, and what harms does this permission-first system aim to prevent?
> It is understood, however, that Dunne will not face charges.
If it's a bad law that they're making a point of not enforcing, why not repeal the law?
So many questions.
scotty79
> “crucial to know the exact location where they were found” for “reasons that could range from ritualistic to supernatural”
I wonder what they implied there.
wileydragonfly
“We’d rather it rotted away to dust versus you digging it up.”
Good grief.
pvaldes
Or as alternative title: "Finder explained all, Irish museum did nothing".
secondcoming
Flahavans makes excellent porridge
ahmedfromtunis
Parsing the title I thought it was going to be about an Irish museum that solved the mystery of bronze age collapse.
My excitement grew exponentially as the words went by, until it crashed at once.
Hopefully though the secrets of that collapse would be unveiled in the coming years.
23B1
I hope this works out for this guy, because these days I have zero faith that W. European governments are run by sane, commonsense people.
Written permission from who? He was on his own farmland. You have to write a plea to the government to request permission to use a metal detector on your own land? And, if that's the case, are such requests usually granted? What's the rationale here, and what harms does this permission-first system aim to prevent?
> It is understood, however, that Dunne will not face charges.
If it's a bad law that they're making a point of not enforcing, why not repeal the law?
So many questions.