Night-vision goggles scupper salmon poachers

Salmon poachers caught with night vision goggles


Three salmon poachers were caught at a river in Erris last September by Inland Fisheries officers using night vision goggles.
James Coyle of Tipp, Belmullet and Peter Howard of Shraigh West, Bunnahowen, Belmullet both appeared at Belmullet District Court on Wednesday last charged with poaching on September 4, 2013.
James Ward, solicitor for the Inland Fisheries, said that at 9pm on the night in question the two men, and a third who is underage, were spotted at an area known as Doctor’s Pool on the Owenmore River near Bangor Erris putting a net into the river and then bringing the net up towards the road. All three attempted to get into a car driven by a fourth individual but, upon seeing the Fisheries’ officers, they ran away, leaving behind a bag with five salmon in it.
With the use of night vision goggles, Fisheries officers saw the three men standing in a bog for one hour before they moved, at which stage the officers apprehended them. Coyle was wearing a balaclava, the court heard.
The five salmon were sold for €170 and the proceeds given to the RNLI.
Defending solicitor for both men was Michael Bohan. He told the court Coyle is a 30 year old married father of three with a fourth child due. He said Coyle, who has no previous convictions, has ‘no intention of indulging in this conduct in the future’.
The court heard that Howard, a father of two children, had a previous conviction for poaching but has ‘learned his lesson and knows the game is up’, said Mr Bohan.
Judge Victor Blake convicted Coyle and fined him a total of €525. He convicted Howard and fined him a total of €650 and imposed a contribution towards costs of €300.