Victory in illegal fishing cases
Press release, 24th October 2013
Victory in illegal fishing cases
Inland Fisheries Ireland have had great success with 2 recent court cases at Whitewood Lake in Kilmainham Wood, County Meath resulting in fines of €500 issued and expenses of €2,024 awarded to Inland Fisheries Ireland for bringing these cases.
In May 2013, Mr. Jonas Kavaliauskas of 243a Cherrywood Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 was fishing suspiciously at Whitewood Lake in Kilmainham Wood, Co. Meath. Mr. Kavaliauskas was apprehended by Assistant Inspector Ronan O’Brien and found to have 57 coarse fish in his possession. This is in breach of the coarse fish byelaw which allows an angler to have 4 coarse fish under 25cm in his possession. This case was heard on 20th September 2013 at Kells District Court and Mr. Kavaliauskas pleaded guilty. Judge Denis McLaughlin convicted him for breaches of the coarse fish Byelaw 806 of 2006. The defendant was fined €100 with six months to pay and Inland Fisheries Ireland was awarded €714 in expenses.
A second case was heard on 9th October at Navan District Court. The court heard that in August 2013, Mr Petre Tuica of 84 Nephin Road, Dublin 7 and Mr. Iosif Ciocan of 89 Fernleigh Drive, Dublin 15 were fishing at Whitewood Lake and found to be in possession of 60 fish. Both individuals were apprehended by Assistant Inspector Ronan O’Brien as they had more than 4 coarse fish in their possession. Mr. Ciocan did not appear in court and Mr. Tucia pleaded guilty. After hearing the evidence Judge Patrick Clyne found both defendants guilty and convicted them for breaches of the coarse fish Byelaw 806 of 2006. Mr. Ciocan was fined €200 with 14 days to pay with 5 days imprisonment in default and to pay €655 in costs. Mr. Tucia was fined €100 with one month to pay with 5 days imprisonment in default and to pay €655 in costs to Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Whitewood Lake is a notable coarse fishery in the Kilmainham Wood area of County Meath containing stocks of roach, bream, hybrids and pike. Coarse angling provides an important recreational amenity to both local and overseas anglers. A recent study by Inland Fisheries Ireland found that angling generates €0.75 billion to the Irish economy every year. Inland Fisheries Ireland have a freefone number to enable members of the general public to report poaching and pollution incidences - 1890 34 74 24 or for easier recall 1890 FISH 24.
...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.
