Fears of conflict if Spanish invade Irish waters

AN armada of 200 Spanish trawlers will invade Irish fishing waters on January 1 unless Marine Minister Dermot Ahern works out a compromise deal, a fishermen’s leader warned last night.

Irish fishermen will not take this threat to their livelihoods lying down and there could be serious confrontation on the high seas, Irish South and West Fishermen's Organisation manager Jason Whooley warned.

"The high seas are dangerous enough without having conflict out there. I am not convinced we can convince our fishermen to stay out of conflict," Mr Whooley said.