They let me back in.

Are you a strikebreaker you do know we are in protest / negotiations... will have to look your old posts and see if this is a forward move or a backward move. That kind of move would offer nothing to metal detecting as a hobby that we can all enjoy.

Don't be shocked if we have to say goodbye as your actions were not discussed with us.

But you know we are in a campaign and we were engaged in talks with the NMI.
We were offered the chance to do what you have done but on behalf of our members we said NO.
That is lackey work sticking flags on finds for the NMI ….. nothing to do with what we do and want.

According to the NMI you are breaking the law if you detect full stop.
Do you feel you have special dispensation to detect because you marked out a few finds for them?
Did you tell your local museum you found the finds while metal detecting?


What you do is of course your own business and who are we to tell you what to do but this is a campaigning forum with an agreed agenda.
How do you think your actions would look to the NMI while our team is in talks trying to make a deal? We don't do singular deals for individuals.

Metal detecting is a legitimate hobby and nothing to be ashamed of or to be in fear of doing within the law.

When I say strike I was speaking metaphorically... at the moment we are not willing to work with them without recognition of our good work.

You did not answer the questions fair enough you don't have to but I am afraid we can't have a loose cannon on the forum.
What you are doing is looking after your own needs above the majority of our members and what you are doing detracts from the hard work and time and money our team and members have given to this hobby.

I will give you time to answer this post and wish you well on your journey but this is not the place for you.

No problem I will not remove your account for a few days and our members can voice their opinion as they have the right to do. I am sure some will even agree with what you are doing but the bigger picture is what needs to be taken into account. If you want to name the archaeologist and the museum that takes in finds from metal detectorists please feel free to share it. Should not be an issue for you to give that information if all is above board and maybe we can see if he will take something in from other members who make a find while metal detecting. I mean you do know if the NMI decide to make a complaint to the garda you could be prosecuted according to their interpretation of the law. What they have you doing is not metal detecting in the real sense you are not allowed to do dig what you find you simply mark the ground with a flag and walk away end of.
We could have done it years ago but we would not be a lackey to glorify the people who do not recognise our hobby.


You should note this post:

irishmetaldetecting.freeforums.net/thread/825/

Just want to add we are aware of some people who get paid for detecting for the NMI that is totally different to what Jerome is doing.
To make it clear this is not a personal attack on Jerome I am sure he would not have made the post if he had known this was an offer made to our team a long time ago. Doing what he is doing would not help metal detecting and it is a bum deal with no worth to the metal detecting hobby. It changes nothing in the eyes of the NMI and the NMS they would still view us as criminals.
Just to recap what Jerome is actually doing for the NMI:

He gets no pay and is doing it for free.
He can locate a signal and mark it with a flag.
He must then walk away until an archaeologist checks it.
He is not allowed dig anything or take part in the dig.
He may or may not find out what the signal was or is.
I doubt he would get any form of credit if something important was part of the outcome of his detector use.

In the true sense of the meaning of the words metal detecting hobby his actions play no part.
I am at odds how Jerome thinks he can detect outside of his NMI work and hand in finds to a local museum its a contradiction of what the NMI tell everybody else. Is Jerome searching for archaeological objects? Can he be charged if he finds something? according to the NMI if you dig something that may turn out to be an archaeological object you probably already broke the law. This is the risk factor we constantly talk about on the forum and the only reason why our members cannot hand in anything they might find. Here we have Jerome telling us no such risk or problem exists for him. If that is the case then I wish the NMI and the NMS would give us something to say our members are not as risk of prosecution if they hand in objects.

The NMI and the NMS do not distinguish between types of metal detecting other than with a licence to them other than under licence you should not be detecting.

Jerome, don't feel like you're being picked on here, it's an unusual situation you have that we on the forum find intriguingly difficult to get to grips with. We can't hand in anything without the Spanish Inquisition, followed by persecution, yet you say you can. Forgive us for being a bit paranoid with your situation on the forum. You're doing the same jigsaw puzzle as we are but yours has some parts that don't fit exactly with the forum's one, if you get me.

Rereading all the posts..

Jerome your genuine in your posts and your comments are honest.. you've not offended anyone I believe, but just the facts dont add up.. maybe as Frank said, could you post an image of a receipt of an object from the museum (obscure your name address etc) but some proof of acceptance for items handed in, or could we be as bold as to ask.. can you give us a name in the museum who would accept finds.. maybe could we make contact via e-mail or post with the member of the museum who invited you to the dig.. Maybe we have missed something in the law and your contact could clear things up for us.
Nobody wants to say goodbye, its a community here, working for change in a positive and controlled way, but if what you say is true please.. show us and share more information....

about 2 years ago I met Jerome and a few others in Jeromes home patch for a days detecting on a local beach.My impression of him is that he has a genuine love for detecting.he was very friendly and spoke openly to us on that day that he was handing in things to his local museum.I don't think he meant to offend anyone but all you say Frank I have to agree with too.

I agree with all your points fully Frank.