The captain of a Spanish fishing boat found illegally fishing in restricted waters off the Galway coast has been returned for trial and will have to pay €55,000 to get his boat back, the Galway District Court heard.
Manuel Cousillas with an address given as C/Eduardo Blanco Amor, N2 Portail, 2 C Villarrodis, Arteixo, A Coruna, Spain, was brought before Judge Mary Fahy last Monday charged with being the master of the sea fishing boat ‘Nova Aborada’which did allegedly conduct bottom trawling and had an incorrect boarding ladder, which broke whilst being used for purpose of boarding, within the exclusive fishery limits of the State on January 11 last, contrary to Section 14 of the Sea Fisheries and Martime Jurisdiction Act.
Sgt Ann Boland gave evidence that the accused had been arrested on January 18 last at the Docks and later charged with the two offences. The court heard that Cousillas gave no reply to charge and caution. Sgt Boland then said that the book of evidence had been served on the defendant at Monday’s court sitting.
State solicitor William Kennedy told the court that the DPP had consented to the accused being sent forward for trial at the next sitting of Galway Circuit Court. He then advised Judge Fahy that there was consent to Cousillas being released from custody on his own bond of €100 and that under Section 21 of the same Act the boat could be released on condition that a bond of €55,000 was paid.
Cousillas’ solicitor then informed the court that this money would be made available within the next few days.
Judge Fahy made an order for Cousillas to be returned for trial to the next sittings of Galway Circuit Court commencing April 27. 3
