Arrest warrant out for angler

An arrest warrant has been issued for an angler who threatened to stone fisheries officers after being caught fishing illegally.

Oliver Breen, from Dunfanaghy, Co Donegal, was caught by inland fisheries officers using illegal equipment on the River Ray in Falcarragh on Jun 24.

When challenged by officer Cormac Goulding, Mr Breen gave a false name and then refused to hand over his fishing rod.

After a struggle the rod snapped and Mr Breen waded across the river away from officers.

When Mr Goulding tried to follow, he was threatened by Mr Breen who picked up stones and said he would not be afraid to use them.

Mr Goulding left but contacted gardaí who identified the alleged culprit as Mr Breen.

Mr Goulding and gardaí called to Mr Breen’s home some days later and he admitted being on the river.

However, he failed to appear in court and had no legal representation.

Judge Conal Gibbons told Letterkenny District Court he was annoyed Mr Breen had not bothered to come to court and issued an arrest warrant for him to appear.

He said the job of a fisheries officer was a difficult one but he said it had the same powers as gardaí in this case.

He said he took a very serious view of anyone who threatened fisheries officers and wanted to hear what Mr Breen had to say for himself before he passed sentence.

“We can’t have such officers being threatened in such a manner. They are merely doing a job and often have to go to isolated places and carry out their work,” said the judge.

“I would consider fisheries officers very much as I would gardaí.”