Man fined for warning to salmon-poaching brother

Man fined for warning to salmon-poaching brother  


A Glenamoy man was convicted of ‘shouting a warning’ to his brother who was illegally fishing salmon on the Glenamoy River and fined €250 at last week’s sitting of Belmullet District Court.
James Healy of Bunowna, Glenamoy, Ballina, was charged with giving a warning to another person engaged in fishing unlawfully, when fishery officers approached him on July 20, 2011.
The court heard that James Healy and his brother Michael were seen getting out of a jeep at Bellagelly North, Glenamoy at 7.30pm that evening. Michael Healy was seen by Inland Fishery Officers setting a net in the Glenamoy River and James Healy was seen going to a vantage point. When the fishery officers appeared, James Healy shouted and Michael left the scene. To give a warning to persons unlawfully fishing is considered an offence contrary to the Fisheries Act.
Mr James Ward, solicitor for the Inland Fisheries said when the officers approached the defendant he acted in an ‘aggressive, hostile and bizarre’ manner.
Mr Michael Bohan said his client apologised for his behaviour but did not wholly accept the version of events as outlined. He said he had gone to tend cattle and objected to being accused of being caught up in illegal fishing. He said he had not been engaged in illegal fishing and had no previous convictions. Michael Healy pleaded guilty at a previous court and was fined €250.
Judge Denis McLoughlin said he did not believe Mr Bohan’s account, and he fined Mr Healy €250 and ordered him to pay €400 in costs.