Two Carlow Men Convicted of Illegal Fishing on River Slaney
“The illegal fishing of wild salmon puts the survival of this protected species into jeopardy, not just in rivers here in the south-east like the Slaney, Nore, Barrow and Suir, but in every Irish river,” Lynda Connor, Inland Fisheries Ireland
Two Carlow men have been found guilty of fishing illegally for protected wild salmon on the River Slaney and for obstructing or impeding a fisheries officer, in a prosecution brought by Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Sitting before Judge Geraldine Carthy at Carlow District Court earlier this month (December 1st 2022), Mr. Shane Rooney of Park Avenue, Phellim Wood in Tullow and Mr. Adam Keegan of Slaney View Drive in Tullow were found guilty of all charges against them.
On the evening of March 29th (2022), a covert protection operation was carried out by a specialist fisheries unit, supported by local staff. This was at a time of year when wild salmon were extremely vulnerable during the ‘spring run’ up the River Slaney.
In the townland of Kilcarry, on the freshwater portion of the River Slaney, the two defendants were observed illegally fishing for wild salmon during the closed season, using pieces of angling equipment that were contrary to bye-laws.
Mr. Rooney was fined €1,500 and ordered to pay a further €750 towards prosecution costs for the three charges against him. These were: obstructing or impeding a fisheries officer contrary to Section 301 (Fisheries Consolidation Act, 1959), using or attempting to use a lure other than artificial fly using single or double barbless hooks, contrary to Bye-law No. 992 of 2021 and finally, using or attempting to use any fish hooks other than single or double barbless hooks contrary to Bye-law No. 989 of 2021.
Mr. Keegan, who had pleaded guilty, received a €400 fine in respect of the breach of Article 5(a) of Bye-law No. 992 of 2021 (using or attempting to use a lure other than artificial fly using single or double barbless hooks) and the Judge took the remaining two charges into consideration, which were: obstructing or impeding a fisheries officer contrary to Section 301 (Fisheries Consolidation Act, 1959), and assaulting or obstructing fisheries officer contrary to Section 308 (Fisheries Consolidation Act, 1959).
Both men also had their fishing rods and reels seized.
Commenting on the case, the Director of the South-Eastern River Basin District at Inland Fisheries Ireland, Lynda Connor, said: “The River Slaney has an early spring run of wild Atlantic salmon, so these migratory species are especially vulnerable at that time and require as much protection as possible. The illegal fishing of wild salmon puts the survival of this protected species into jeopardy, not just in rivers here in the south-east like the Slaney, Nore, Barrow and Suir, but in every Irish river.”
She added: “Breaches of fisheries legislation highlight the ongoing issue of illegal fishing activity. At Inland Fisheries Ireland, we have a zero-tolerance approach to serious environmental crime and we initiate prosecutions, where possible. I would like to commend the Fisheries Protection Officers and their commitment to protecting this vulnerable species”.
Members of the public in the south-east are being urged to continue reporting suspicions of illegal fishing activity to Inland Fisheries Ireland’s confidential hotline number. This number is 0818 34 74 24, which is open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
ENDS
For media information, please contact:
Sarah Bohan and Sadhbh O’ Neill
Communications Team
Inland Fisheries Ireland
E : sarah.bohan@fisheriesireland.ie /sadhbh.oneill@fisheriesireland.ie
Photography
An archive photograph is available, reproduction-free, showing an example of angling rods and reels. Please note that these are not the same angling rods or reels that were seized as part of the case in Carlow District Court on December 1st 2022. Archive image is courtesy of Inland Fisheries Ireland.
