#Angling - Judge Marie Keane has convicted Belfast man John Beales of illegal fishing and obstruction of fisheries officers over an incident on the Clare River in Claregalway on 13 July 2015.

Beales was convicted for failure to attach a gill tag to a wild salmon under Section 3 of the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Scheme Regulations and for obstruction under Section 301(7) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act, 1959.

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) officers Conor Dennedy and Paul Reynolds attended court and gave evidence of events to Judge Keane at a sitting of Galway District Court on the 30th of September.

Officer Dennedy told how they were on a foot patrol on the Clare River on the date in question he saw an angler, later identified as Beales, fishing downstream of the bridge. When Beales noticed the fisheries officer, he concealed his fishing equipment and walked towards him.

Beales denied he had been fishing when questioned by Officer Dennedy. However, upon inspection of Beales’ van, Officer Dennedy found two salmon, one trout and two mounted fishing rods. One of the salmon had a tag for the Foyle Fisheries Area issued to Beales affixed to it, which is only valid in the Foyle area.

Beales became aggressive when questioned by fisheries officers and was later directed to leave the area by gardaí under the Public Order Act.

Initially, IFI issued Beales with a fixed charge penalty notice for the offence, but despite reminders, he did not pay. As a result, Beales was prosecuted and brought to court.

Judge Keane accepted the evidence of the fisheries officers in court and imposed fines totalling €900, as well as costs of €500. She also made a Forfeiture Order in respect of all items seized on the day from Beales.