Kerry curragh fisherman fined €5,000 for illegal lobster catch
The KerrymanA judge ordered a curragh fisherman to donate €5,000 to charity for unlicensed lobster fishing at the recent sitting of Tralee District Court.
Brendan Lawlor (67) of Clahaneleish, Ballyheigue, pled to three charges on May 2, June 6 and August 1, 2024.
He had sold €15,282 worth of lobster, the court heard.
“This is a man of the sea,” his solicitor Padraig O’Connell told the court.
“This is a curragh that Brendan was sailing at the time, judge,” said Mr O’Connell. “He has been at this all his life and has always had a licence. I’d ask you to leave him without a conviction at this age of life.”
Mr Lawlor’s seven-metre curragh, the Ciara Marie, is registered in Tralee port.
An inspector said Mr Lawlor was unlicensed from May 1, 2024.
He did not knowingly fish without a licence, the court heard.
His licence was renewed from November 1, 2024. There was no fishing between this period and August 1.
Mr Lawlor had no previous convictions.
Judge David Waters suggested a donation of €5,000 to Royal National Lifeboat Institution and adjourned to December 3.