An angler has been ordered to appear before a judge today to explain why he threatened a fisheries officer with stones during an altercation over alleged illegal fishing.
Judge Conal Gibbons ordered the arrest of Oliver Breen from Sandhills in Dunfanaghy.
Falcarragh District Court heard yesterday how Breen was spotted by Inland Fisheries Officer Cormac Goulding using an illegal single barbed hook on June 24th last on the Rover Ray in Falcarragh.
When challenged Breen gave a false name and then refused to give his fishing rod to officer Goulding.
Following a struggle the rod snapped and Breen waded across the river away from officers.
When Officer Goulding tried to follow Breen, he claims he was threatened by Breen who picke dup some stones and said he wouldn’t be afraid to use them on the fisheries officer.
Mr Goulding left but contacted Gardai who identified the alleged culprit as Breen.
Officer Goulding and Gardai called to Breen’s home some day’s later and he admitted being there.
However, Breen failed to appear in court yesterday and had no legal representation.
Judge Conal Gibbons said he was annoyed that Breen had not even bothered to come to court and issued an arrest warrant for him to appear at Letterkenny District Court today.
He said the job of a fisheries officer was a difficult one but he said it had the same powers as Gardai in this case.
He said he took a very serious view of anyone who threatened fisheries officers and wanted to hear what Breen had to say for himself before he passed sentence.
“We can’t have such officers being threatened in such a manner,” said Judge Gibbons.