DUBLIN restaurant Rolys Bistro was illegally supplied with venison by a man not licensed to sell protected wildlife, a court heard yesterday. The supplier was convicted and fined.
Seamus Kavanagh of the Ballard, Knockrath, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, pleaded not guilty to nine summonses under the Wildlife Act for selling while not licensed.
He was also summonsed for carrying on the business of a supplier of wild animals and having them in his possession on three separate dates between December, 1994, and February, 1995, without having a licence.
Restaurateur Mr Roland Saul told the Dublin District Court yesterday how he a began to buy deer from Kavanagh in 1992 in another restaurant he owned and then later at Rolys.
Mr Saul was aware licences were needed and Kavanagh had told him he had one. The quality of Kavanagh's meat was very high, he said, and agreed he was well regarded in the trade.
Park ranger Mr Terry Doherty told the court how on February 21st, 1995, he followed Kavanagh from the Wicklow mountains to Dublin where he delivered venison to Rolys Bistro in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
A search warrant for Rolys was obtained and along with other Rangers and gardai Mr Doherty went to the restaurant. Venison was taken away.
Kavanagh told the court his abattoir in Co Wicklow was the only one in Ireland equipped to a sufficiently high standard to supply game.
He said he had known Mr Saul and his family for some time as they also came from Rathdrum.
He said he shot all the deer himself and supplied carcasses direct to the head chef at Rolys. He had a firearms licence and his counsel claimed Rolys did not inquire about his licence to supply game.
Judge Leonard said she was satisfied that "these are fairly serious breaches of the Wildlife Act". She fined Mr Kavanagh, who had no previous convictions, £850.