Angler narrowly avoids jail

Press Release 12/12/13

An angler has narrowly avoided jail for assaulting two fishery officers and failing to buy fishing permits for the Cloongee Fishery on the River Moy near Foxford. Nick McKeown with an addresses at Ardrass, Attymass, Foxford, Co. Mayo was prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland at a sitting of Ballina District Court on the 9th December 2013.

McKeown failed to attend the hearing but was represented by his solicitor, Mr. Charlie Gilmartin. Judge Kevin Kilrane proceeded in McKeown’s absence and, after hearing the evidence from Fisheries Officers Geoffrey Thornton, Eddie Doherty and Assistant Inspector Pat Armstrong, convicted him of fishing without a permit on four separate dates and assault on two fishery officers in 2011.

Mr. Gilmartin explained his client’s actions by indicating that there had been some confusion as to the ownership of fishing rights on Cloongee Fishery. Solicitor Henry Hewson, acting for IFI, presented an Order from Castlebar Circuit Court confirming that IFI held title to the fishing rights on that section of the River Moy since its purchase by the former North Western Regional Fisheries Board in 2004.The Judge heard evidence that McKeown was also found fishing at Clongee without a permit on a number of dates after the Circuit Court ruling in 2012.

Judge Kilrane took a dim view of the defendant’s actions and felt that a fine might not be appropriate in this case. A warrant was issued for McKeown’s arrest so that he could be brought before the Court for sentencing. However, McKeown arrived at the Court late and the Judge agreed to sit again in order to deal with the matter. Judge Kilrane indicated that he would not impose a prison sentence if McKeown gave a written undertaking to the Court that he would not fish illegally.

Judge Kilrane adjourned sentencing to the 8th December 2014 with liberty for IFI to re-enter if there is a breach of the undertaking signed.

...ENDS...

Media Enquiries:

Suzanne Campion
Head of Business Development
Inland Fisheries Ireland
Anglesea Street,
Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971;
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes to Editor

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.