illegalfishing – At a sitting of Kilcock District Court today (16.07.15), Judge Grainne O'Neill convicted a man living in County Meath on the count of illegal fishing, and issued a fine of €50.
Ion Onos, with an address at Apartment 54, Ard Cluain, Clonee, Co. Meath was charged with having a net in his possession which was capable of capturing salmon.
Judge O'Neill heard evidence that on 3rd September, the defendant was fishing on the River Liffey at Leixlip Dam. Fishing is prohibited in this sanctuary area as salmon can congregate here in relatively large numbers before ascending the fish pass. Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) Fisheries Officers Maurice Carolan and Paul O'Reilly apprehended the defendant who was in possession of a net and was using a fishing rod equipped with barbed treble hooks. The defendant co-operated with IFI's officers at all times. All equipment was seized and prosecution proceedings were initiated.
All parties were represented in court, where IFI Inspector Martin Kelly outlined details of the case. Mr Onus pleaded guilty to all charges. Judge Grainne O'Neill convicted him under Section 95 of the Fisheries Act, 1959 (as amended), for having a net in his possession which was capable of capturing salmon. She fined him €50 and ordered him to pay total costs of €2,464 to Inland Fisheries Ireland.
The River Liffey is currently closed for salmon and sea trout fishing (upstream of Leixlip Dam) under salmon conservation measures which were introduced nationally by Inland Fisheries Ireland in 2006.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the public to report poaching and pollution incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.
