Books of evidence served on eight Donegal sea fishermen for separate offences

In separate cases, eight men have been sent forward for trial for alleged breaches of sea-fishing regulations.

The defendants all appeared before Judge Sandra Murphy at Donegal District Court on Monday, November 25. 

State Solicitor Kieran Dillon told the court in each case that the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to the accused being sent for trial on indictment to the next sitting of Donegal Circuit Court, sitting in Letterkenny and commencing on December 12.

When each case was called, Garda Eoghan McAllister gave evidence of serving the books of evidence.

Judge Murphy sent each of the defendants forward to the circuit court on a €250 bail bond.

Martin Callaghan of Roshine, Killybegs faces two charges, presented in two separate books of evidence.

It is alleged that on February 8, 2021, being the Master of Irish sea fishing boat Pacelli, within the exclusive fishery limits of the State, he failed to accurately record data in the logbook for the operations of said sea-fishing boat by under-recording the quantity of catch of horse mackerel on board. 

He faces a further charge that on January 7, 2023, being master of the same boat, he allegedly, within the exclusive fishery limits of the State, failed to accurately record data in the logbook by under-recording the quantity of catch of herring on board.

Peter Mogan, Lower Glencoagh, Mountcharles is also facing two charges outlined in two books of evidence. 

It is alleged that on October 31, 2022, within the exclusive fisheries of the state, being Master of the Irish sea fishing boat Veronica, he failed to accurately record data in the logbook for the operations of said sea-fishing boat by mis-recording the quantity of catch of herring on board.

It is further alleged that between March 3, 2020 and March 8, 2020, within the exclusive fisheries of the state, being Master of the same vessel, he failed to correctly keep a fishing log book of operations indicating for each fishing trip all quantities of species caught and retained on board above 50kg of live weight,  in that he failed to accurately record the quantity of blue whiting kept on board.

Kevin McHugh, Old Fintra Road, Killybegs is charged that on March 5, 2023, within the exclusive fisheries of the state, being Master of the Irish sea fishing boat Leila he allegedly failed to accurately record data in the logbook for the operations of said sea-fishing boat by mis-recording the quantity of catch of boarfish on board.

John Histon of Mountcharles is charged that on March 28, 2020, being Master of the Irish sea fishing boat Westward Isle, within the exclusive fisheries of the state, he alleged failed to accurately record data in the logbook for the operations of said sea-fishing boat by mis-recording the quantity of catch of blue whiting.

Stevie McSharry, Westwinds, Largy, Killybegs is charged that between  January 8, 2020 and January 10, 2020, within the exclusive fisheries of the state, being Master of the Irish sea fishing boat Atlantic Challenge, he allegedly failed to correctly keep a fishing log book of operations indicating for each fishing trip all quantities of species caught and retained on board above 50kg of live weight, in that he failed to accurately record the quantity of mackerel kept on board,

Marty McGing, Conlin Road, Killybegs is facing a charge that on February 14, 2022, being Master of the Irish sea fishing boat Olgarry, within the exclusive fishery limits of the state, allegedly failed to accurately record data in the logbook for the operations of said sea-fishing boat by mis-recording his catch of mackerel.

Noel McDowell, Bavin, Kilcar is charged that on March 13, 2023, being Master of the Irish sea fishing vessel Atlantic Challenge, within the exclusive fishery limits of the state, allegedly failed to accurately record data in the logbook for the operations of said sea-fishing boat by mis-recording your catch of blue whiting on board.

Michael Munnelly, Riverdale Heights, Killybegs is charged that between November 12, 2020 and November 29, 2020 being the Master of the Irish sea-fishing boat Shazleah, being a sea-fishing boat registered in the Republic of Ireland, allegedly failed to comply with the conditions of North West Herring Authorisation, in that he retained onboard herring in excess of the quantity of such stock permitted.

Munnelly is further charged that on November 12, 2020 to November 29, 2020, within the exclusive fishery limits of the State, being the Master of the same vessel, he is alleged to have landed fish species greater than 10t in Greencastle which is not a designated port.

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