Boarding ladder causes a stumble but not a tumble

Boarding ladder causes a stumble but not a tumble…..

An Irish Sea Fishing vessel was prosecuted for failing to provide an adequate boarding ladder when asked to do so by a Naval boarding party.

The request was made in the course of a routine inspection.

The Boarding party immediatly commented on the ladder, but were able to gain access, using the ladder, to the trawler without incident.

Once on board the inspection continued and nothing else was found to be out of place.

The Navy subsequently detanied the Sea Fishing Vessel and directed to go to Castletown port.

Upon arrival at the port of Castletown, the vesel was met by An Gardai Siochana an members of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. A full inspection followed.

With nothing else out of place, the Captain was prosecuted and brought before Castletown District Court at a Regular sitting.

The Court was informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions, deemed the matter was a minor one and that it could, if the Court was happy that it was a minor offence, be dealt with in the District Court.

On hearing a submission from Dermot Conway, Solicitor, Judge McNulty accepted jurisidiction and acceeded to the request of Mr. Conway to deal with the matter by way of the Probation of Offenders Act (this has the effect of no conviction). No fine was payable.

He directed that a sum of €500 be paid to the DPP as a contribution towards his costs.

The matter was concluded and all the vessels papers were returned to the Captain straight away.

Dermot Conway
CONWAYS SOLICITORS
+353 87 6793478