Boat captains dubbed ‘men of integrity’ and spared conviction
THE captains of two small Northern Ireland-registered fishing boats who breached fishing regulations have been given the benefit of the Probation Act after a judge said he believes they are “men of integrity”.
Fishermen Jack Brown (56) and Kevin Trainor (46) were arrested on Tuesday afternoon after they were observed by the Irish Navy fishing in their boats for shellfish in the exclusive six-mile Irish territorial limit in Dundalk Bay.
Their 10-metre boats – named Boy Joseph and Amity – were detained in Dundalk Bay by the LE Orla and escorted to Clogherhead Harbour in Co Louth.
When both boats were inspected, there was “modest quantities of shellfish”, which has since been disposed of, Drogheda District Court heard.
The court heard that both fishermen breached a Supreme Court decision that ruled in 2016 that a “gentlemen’s agreement” dating back to the 1960s to allow fishermen from the Republic of Ireland to fish in a six-mile limit in Northern Ireland, and vice versa, was invalid.
State solicitor Fergus Mullins said “unfortunately these men continued to fish in Republic of Ireland’s waters to try and increase their fishing catches”.
He also said both men were fully co operative.
Sgt John Heavey, of Dunleer Garda Station, said both men had no previous convictions.
Brown, of Rooney Park, Kilkeel, Co Down and Trainor, of Casement Park, Kilkeel, Co Down, pleaded guilty at Drogheda District Court to fishing within the exclusive fishery limits of the State, contrary to Section 10 of the Sea Fisheries & Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006.
They further pleaded guilty to entering within the exclusive fisheries limit of the State at a time when it is not lawful, contrary to Section 8 of the Sea Fisheries & Maritime Jurisdiction Act.
In giving them the benefit of Section 1.1 of the Probation Act, Judge John Coughlan said: “It appears to me that these men are people of integrity. But I am bound by a Supreme Court decision. They should be dealt with with absolute discretion and leniency.”