THE way in which a Spanish trawler had fished illegally in Irish waters over a number of months was tantamount to piracy", a Circuit Court judge said yesterday.
The State was making its first application for the confiscation of a foreign trawler in the Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday when the skipper of the Spanish registered Gonzales Covelo pleaded guilty to six charges of contravening fishing laws.
The boat, worth £110,000, has been berthed in Castletownbere since its arrest last February because its owner cannot raise the £800,000 bond required for its release.
Jose Manuel Aquete Pesqueira pleaded guilty to three charges of failing to keep a logbook of operations in June, October and December last year, attempting to fish in Irish waters, illegal entry into the State's exclusive fishery limit and riot having up to date charts on board.
Mr Don McCarthy, barrister, said co operation between the Air Corps and the Naval Service led to the trawler's detection and detention. Under the new fishery laws, he was applying for the vessel's confiscation.
Mr Rory Conway, defending, asked the judge not to confiscate the trawler.
Judge Murphy warned that, in the proper circumstances, he would confiscate vessels but not this time as the skipper had pleaded to the charges and saved the State the considerable expense of a trial.
He imposed fines totalling £75,000; confiscated gear worth £11,100; fish which was sold by the Department of the Marine valued at £9,880 and allowed the State costs of £2,000.