Program: GMU
Date & Time 26.8.03
Subject AULD LAMMAS FAIR - COUNTERFEIT GOODS

(This transcript is courtesy of the Northern Ireland News Service)

SEAMUS MCKEE

Well, the Auld Lammas Fair will bring thousands of people into Ballycastle today and again there'll be plain clothes police officers moving among them. They have already seized thousands of pounds worth of counterfeit goods, cds, dvds, designer clothes and so on and the operation is continuing. Moyle councillor Madeline Black joins us. What is your view of this police operation?

MADELINE BLACK

I have to say now up until yesterday evening at tea time I didn't know it was happening, but certainly after last year the police did seize a considerable amount of counterfeit goods, so they have obviously decided to have this operation this year to see if they can stem it a bit. So I honestly don't think it has made a big difference to the people coming to Ballycastle. They were here in their thousands yesterday and certainly they did it discretely, the police, when they were doing it, sorry the PSNI, but I honestly don't think it stopped the people from coming and people from enjoying themselves.

SEAMUS MCKEE

When all of this material was being picked up last year did councillors not want to do something about it?

MADELINE BLACK

Yes I have to say there were a few councillors that wanted these people completely banned.

SEAMUS MCKEE

Did you?
 

MADELINE BLACK

Well actually I just felt that how could you do that to the Lammas Fair? You couldn't just ban, I am not saying that all the stall holders have a problem with counterfeit goods, but certainly there is a percentage of them that do and I just felt that I didn't want the Lammas Fair effected, but I certainly condemn the sale of counterfeit goods, but I do feel it is an overflow from the Nutts Corner etc and they will come anyway. A lot of them don't have stalls, a lot of them use little tables and sell out of their bags and whatever, rucksacks and things like that.

SEAMUS MCKEE

Because if you want a stall at the Lammas Fair you have to have a licence, people there have had pitches there for years haven't they?

MADELINE BLACK

Absolutely, yes. Most of the stall keepers that come year in year out do have the licences and they come to the same place every year and they have been coming for years and years. For people like these I suppose it is awful to think that these people that are selling the counterfeit goods are getting away with it, you know.

SEAMUS MCKEE

The police would say that they are not getting away with it because they are clamping down on it.

MADELINE BLACK

Well certainly this year I have to say the PSNI seem to have done, I haven't heard the figure yet, but certainly last year they did seize a lot of counterfeit goods coming off the ferries and by all reports they have done exactly this year.

SEAMUS MCKEE

And it is going to damage the Fair ultimately isn't it? That is what people would fear.

MADELINE BLACK

Well the man on the street is basically saying this is not going to spoil the Fair, the Fair went on this year, they came in their thousands as usual. 

SEAMUS MCKEE

Yes but the reputation that the Fair has is there not a concern that that could be damaged?

MADELINE BLACK

Well yes there is a concern that it would damage the Fair but it is traditional with the Fair that you come and you get a bargain and lot of people obviously like to get their bargains, but certainly a lot of people would not like to see it effecting the Fair, myself included.

SEAMUS MCKEE

What do you say to those who regard the counterfeit stall holders as providing a kind of a service which is welcome because they are making these goods available cheaper?

MADELINE BLACK

Yes, well the thing is you pay your money for whatever, your counterfeit dvd's, cd or whatever, you go home and I would say 90% of the time it doesn't work. So they are throwing away their money.

SEAMUS MCKEE

And they are lining the pockets of paramilitaries of course.

MADELINE BLACK

Exactly, they are lining the pockets of these paramilitaries yes.

SEAMUS MCKEE

So what is to be done about it?

MADELINE BLACK

I have to say as far as I am aware this has been a very big operation and I do feel that I suppose they should keep it up every year to show people that Ballycastle isn't the place to come to get rid of your counterfeit goods. But I do feel the PSNI have done a good job this year it appears and I think they should keep it up.