A JAPANESE tuna boat remained in detention at Castletownbere, Co Cork, yesterday following a court order detaining it until a bond for the largest sum in an Irish fishery case - almost £1 million - is lodged with court officials.
Judge Terence Finn made the order in respect of the Soshin Maru whose captain, Mr Kenji Oda (25), was charged at a special sitting of Bantry District Court on Saturday with three charges of illegal fishing.
Judge Finn ordered that the Soshin Maru not be released until a bond for £989,350 is lodged with the Bandon court clerk. The sum covers the 80 tons of tuna and gear on the ship, together with possible fines and costs to the State.
At the hearing, Mr Oda denied the three charges: illegal fishing, illegal entry and attempting to fish within Irish territorial waters on August 22nd. He elected to go forward to the next sitting of Cork Criminal Court on November 4th.
Earlier, the court heard evidence from Garda David Herlihy of Adrigole that he had arrested, charged and cautioned Mr Oda, in the presence of an interpreter, and he had replied "not guilty" to all three charges.
Mr Oda was released on his own bail of £100 and Judge Finn agreed to a request from Mr Oda's solicitor, Mr Rory Conway, that when the £989,350 bond was produced it would be lodged in an interest earning account to the benefit of the accused man.
At the outset of the hearing, a State Solicitor, Mr Malachy Boohig, expressed his sympathies, that of the Attorney General, Mr Dermot Gleeson, the Minister for the Marine, Mr Barrett, and the State at the death of five of Mr Oda's compatriots on another Japanese tuna boat.
"I would like to extend all our sympathies and condolences to the families, relatives, friends and comrades of the five Japanese fishermen who lost their lives," Mr Boohig said.
Judge Finn concurred, saying that having heard radio reports on the tragedy, it was a matter of some gravity and he added his sympathies to the families who were mourning their relatives.
The Tricolour flew at half mast outside the court during the 15 minute hearing as a mark of respect to the five men who died when freon refrigeration gas leaked on board their vessel, the Tasei Maru, on Friday.
It is expected that the bond in respect of the Soshin Maru will be lodged either today or tomorrow, thereby allowing the ship to sail from Castletownbere.