Courts / Wexford / Report
Owners want to stop fisherman from trawling near transatlantic cables
Summary
The owners of two trans‑Atlantic communication cables, GTT Communications Inc and its affiliates Hibernia Express Ireland Ltd and Hibernia Atlantic Cable System Limited, have applied to the High Court for injunctions to stop fishermen from trawling within one kilometre of their cables. The cables, which link Ireland, the UK and Canada, carry data for major financial, telecommunications and cloud firms, and one cable transmits information vital to global stock traders. The companies allege that vessels owned by Brendan, Denis, James and John O'Flaherty, operating out of Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford, have been trawling near the cables, posing a high risk of damage and endangering crews because the cables are charged and have previously caused vessels to sink when fishing gear became entangled. The applicants seek orders restraining the respondents from trawling, dropping anchor or interfering with the seabed until the dispute is resolved.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Owners want to stop fisherman from trawling near transatlantic cables. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- 2021-03-23 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Outcome: The matter was adjourned to later this week, when the judge hoped that the court would be in a position to fix a hearing date for the dispute.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request