ROUND- UP

called out to him from a distance.

Gray told him that he had heard he got moved to Sligo and his tone was derogatory.

Gray then told him not to come near him on a river bank, that he was going to get into trouble if he did and that he didn’t want trouble following him home.

Mr Conlon agreed with Mr Mark Mullaney, solicitor ( defending) that he grew up in the same locality as the defendnat but he said he had never associated with him. but had often met him on a river bank.

“The defendant is an accomplished fisherman?” - Mr Mullaney. “At night with a net maybe” - witness. Mr Conlon denied that what took place was a bit of banter and that he had lost his temper and had raised his voice.

His mother in law who happened to be passing brought his son away.

It took him six weeks to get over what happened and go back fishing with him.

Gray said he met Mr Conlon loads of times on the river before he became a fishery officer and that he was now a poacher turned gamekeeper.

When he met Mr Conlon that day he told him he heard he had moved to Sligo but asked him how could he take him seriously in his position and that there was going to be problems if they met on a river.

Gray denied that he had threatened Mr Conlon.

“He went hysterical when I mentioned his past,” he said.

In response to Inspector Donal Sweeney, the defendant admitted that he was a poacher.

Asked what he meant about telling Mr Conlon to stay well out of his way the defendant said there would be bother on the river.

“Obviously there was going to be trouble, there would be arguments. Me and the bailiffs don’t get on.

“They know I’m a poacher and that I like to fish out of the river,” he said.

He added that he had only one leg and that all he was able to do was roar and shout.

The defendant also stated that he didn’t see a child with Mr Conlon at the time.