Sailor told to stay off water before next court appearance on trespass charge

A man who failed to appear in a Dublin district court for alleged trespass was later reported as possibly being lost at sea, and spent three weeks on the water before being escorted ashore.

Jason Vas Diaz, of Ballylynch, Baltimore, in West Cork, had been due to appear before Dublin District Court on April 26 last in relation to alleged trespass at Poolbeg Yacht Club earlier that month.

However, he then set sail around the north coast of the country on his engine-free sailboat, then got caught in bad weather which he said blew out his sails. The court heard there had been fears he had been lost at sea and a massive sea search was launched involving Belfast and Valentia Lifeboat and the Air Corps.

Garda Theresa Sheridan told Judge James McNulty at Skibbereen District Court yesterday that Mr Vas Diaz was escorted ashore on his vessel into Castletownbere at 5pm on Monday and then arrested on foot of a bench warrant that had been issued regarding his non-appearance at the district court in Dublin. It had been alleged that he committed trespass at the Poolbeg Yacht Club on April 5.

“Since the incident in Dublin, Mr Vas Diaz left on his boat,” Garda Sheridan said. “Yesterday was the first time back on land [since].”

Mr Vas Diaz, aged 52, told the judge he had hoped to be back in time for the district court appearance in Dublin. He said he had managed to avoid Storm Hannah but still ran into difficulty and had his sails blown out.

On being told that the defendant had sailed around the north coast, Judge McNulty said: “That is the long way around.”

Sgt Paul Kelly told the court that regarding the emergency search: “When he was spotted, he signalled to the Air Corps that he did not need assistance.”

Ms Vas Diaz, who said he had lived in Baltimore since 1978, said: “I was not offered assistance. I didn’t realise they were coming for me.

“I could see them in the distance but that was all. I waved at them, that’s all.”

Mr Vas Diaz lodged a bail bond of €500 and pledged to attend the district court sitting in Dublin this Friday.

Judge McNulty asked: “You won’t go by sea, will you?” Mr Vas Diaz replied: “No, no.”