Skipper and boat owners fined €4k

The skipper and owners of a fishing boat were convicted and fined a total of €4,000 yesterday on charges partly related to out-of-date safety equipment on a trawler.

Judge Olann Kelleher refused an application to give the accused the benefit of a dismissal under the Probation of Offenders Act after guilty pleas were entered yesterday.

The judge said that, even taking account of mitigating factors such as the pleas of guilty, the co-operation with the investigation and the absence of previous convictions, he had to impose fines.

“I have to do the best I can for the people of the area. Other people’s lives are put at risk because they don’t know what is happening on board,” said Judge Kelleher.

Barrister Donnchadh McCarthy prosecuted on behalf of the transport minister. Cian Cotter, defending, entered guilty pleas on behalf of skipper Pat O’Mahony, of Phelan’s Lane, Kinsale, Co Cork, and Labardie Fisher Ltd of Four Winds, Weaver’s Point, Crosshaven.

O’Mahony pleaded guilty to having expired distress signals on board on October 5, 2015, and having expired hydrostatic releases on life rafts on the same date.

The defendant company, Labardie Fisher Ltd, pleaded guilty to failing to send to the superintendent of Crosshaven a report signed on the company’s behalf stating the names of the skipper, seamen, and apprentices on board on May 28, 2015, and arriving in Crosshaven port on this date with expired distress signals.

The defendants were each fined €1,000 on the two charges against each of them.