Erris men caught with poached sea trout and salmon in car boot

Erris men caught with poached sea trout and salmon in car boot


TWO men who were prosecuted for poaching in a Ballycroy river had their charges struck out after they donated €300 each to the Achill Lifeboat.
Paudge McHugh of Tarsaghaun, Ballycroy and George Sweeney of Briska, Bangor Erris both admitted to the possession of one salmon and nine sea trout along with the possession of a net at Muingnahalloona, Ballycroy on August 26, 2012.
Mr James Ward, solicitor for the prosecuting Inland Fisheries Ireland, explained that fishery officers received a report of poaching in the area and the report said two men in a black Mercedes were involved. Officers stopped the car and nine sea trout and a salmon along with wet clothes were found in the boot.
The two men admitted their involvement and a net was seized in a nearby house owned by Mr McHugh. Neither of them had any previous convictions.
Ms Tracy Murray, solicitor for the two defendants, said both men were small farmers and asked that the case be dealt with by way of a donation instead of a conviction.
Judge Mary Devins said she did not think she could do that under the legislation and had to impose a conviction unless the prosecution were open to withdrawing the case.
When asked what they were going to do with the fish, the two men replied they were going to eat them.
Mr Ward said that while the two men had met the case fairly and co-operated at the scene he could not withdraw the appeal because he had no instructions to do so. When Judge Devins said she did not think they were hardened poachers, Mr Ward replied that poaching was rife in the area and Inland Fisheries Ireland often get phone calls from the local community asking what was being done about it.
Judge Devins said she would strike out the charges if both men paid €300 each to the Achill Lifeboat and made no order in relation to costs.