Poacher jumped into river on November night to avoid fisheries officers

A second man, who was found on the riverbank on the night of November 5, 2020, pleaded guilty at Cork District Court to having a lamp and gaff hook for the purpose of taking fish unlawfully

Brian O’Mahony, of Oakmount, Tower, Blarney, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to having on the bank of a river a light for the purpose of taking fish unlawfully, contrary to the Fisheries Act, a similar charge in respect of a gaff hook and disturbing salmon or trout during an annual close season for salmon and trout.

Fisheries officers witnessed a man with a type of spear and a powerful lamp evading detection by plunging into a stream on a winter’s night and swimming away.

This emerged during the case against a second man at Cork District Court as Judge Marian O’Leary reacted to the idea of the man jumping into the river. “In November?” the judge asked.