Jail sentence for obstruction and assault of Fishery Officer

Clonmel, 17/02/11

At a sitting of the District Court held at Carlow on the 10th of February 2011, Judge Harnett convicted James Dunne, Castledermot under four offences of the Fisheries Acts including obstructing and assaulting Fishery Officer Patrick Doran, possessing a spear and possessing a light for the purpose of taking fish. The offences took place on the evening of the 21st of December 2009 near Castledermot on the banks of the River Lerr. The River Lerr is a tributary of the River Barrow and an important Salmon nursery.

During evidence Fishery Officers Patrick Doran and James Robinson described how James Dunne, who was trying to evade interrogation, rammed a quad bike which was carrying a fishing spear at Fishery Officer Patrick Doran. Mr. Doran was hit full on by the quad bike resulting in him being thrown over the quad bike. Judge Harnett described Mr. Dunne as a dangerous man and stated it was his duty to protect officers of the state. Judge Harnett convicted James Dunne on all four counts, sentenced him to 7 months in prison, imposed fines totalling €1800 and awarded Inland Fisheries Ireland costs of €1002.15 and expenses of €250. Judge Harnett refused to suspend the jail sentence.

Mr. David Mc Inerney, RBD Director of Inland Fisheries Ireland, commended the dedication of the fishery officers in protecting the vulnerable salmon stocks. Atlantic Salmon spawn in Irish rivers during the winter months and are particularly vulnerable to illegal poaching during the spawning period. Mr. Mc Inerney said ‘Spawning Salmon return from sea to complete the last phase of their life cycle and it is a terrible crime to see them slaughtered after surviving such an epic journey. Illegal poaching of Salmon is a crime which jeopardises a wonderful natural resource.’

Illegal Fishing can be reported to 1890 34 74 24, IFI’s confidential 24 hour report line.

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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.ieThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 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.