Courts / Cork / Report
Clarification sought from EU courts over fishing law
Summary
The Court of Appeal will ask the Court of Justice of the European Union for clarification on EU fishing regulations that govern the return of fish to sea in Irish waters. The case involves Dutch skipper Klass Meijvogel, who was convicted in 2015 of operating a Dutch factory ship, the Wiron 5, that had equipment capable of returning fish to the sea within the Irish exclusion zone near Cork. The ship was boarded by the Irish Naval Service on 11 February 2015, and the boarding party found a grading machine and chute that could return pelagic fish such as herring, mackerel or horse mackerel, which EU regulations made illegal to discharge or return. Meijvogel pleaded not guilty but was found guilty by a 10‑2 jury. Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin ordered confiscation of €344,960 for the catch and €55,000 for gear.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Clarification sought from EU courts over fishing law. Charges or matters: the single fishing offence, but was found guilty by a 10-2 majority jury verdict following a trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that year. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- February 11, 2015 Incident
- July 27, 2015 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 19 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-11-25 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: the single fishing offence, but was found guilty by a 10-2 majority jury verdict following a trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that year (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty
Places mentioned
Topics
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