The Garda Síochána will launch an investigation into allegations that fishermen in Killybegs, Co Donegal, have for years fraudulently recorded fish catches, writes Mark Hennessy, Political Correspondent
Last night the Department for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources confirmed that the Minister, Mr Dempsey, asked the Garda Commissioner to investigate the claims, made by a Killybegs fisherman, Mr Pat Cannon.
Mr Cannon's allegations are likely to lead to an investigation by the European Commission's Directorate General for Fisheries, which has recently taken a much harsher line with member-states found guilty of flouting EU fisheries laws.
Mr Cannon alleges that fishermen in the State's biggest fishing port have falsified logbooks, under-reported catches and ignored quotas and closed fishing areas.
The Minister is extremely concerned about the allegations and briefed Cabinet colleagues yesterday on his decision to involve the Garda.
In a July 26th letter to Mr Dempsey's predecessor, Mr Dermot Ahern, Mr Cannon alleged that the Killybegs fishermen had "blatantly" disregarded European fish quota rules. The letter said: "I have documentary evidence in my possession which proves that, practically on a daily basis, the tonnage of fish being caught far exceeds the allowable catch as laid down by the quotas.
"I have in my possession documents including receipts, log-sheets, etc., which have been altered and falsified so as to give the impression that everything is in order and in accordance with quotas," he wrote.
A Department official, Mr Andrew Cunneen, replied to him on July 29th, asking to see the alleged documentation and saying the allegations were being regarded "most seriously". The two men met on September 2nd, though Mr Cannon refused to give copies of the alleged documentation. They met again on September 9th, Government sources said.
In May, the European Court of Justice Advocate General recommended that France be fined €115.5 million for consistently failing to police illegal fishing by its fishermen. Last night, Department sources said they had feared that the Republic, along with the Netherlands, would be inspected next by the Commission. Mr Cannon's allegations make this a certainty, they said.
Mr Cannon again contacted the Department this week to say he was sending details of his allegations to the European Commission, other EU member-states and Norway.
The Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation last night said it was aware of Mr Cannon's allegations: "I told him to take it up with the proper authorities," said KFO spokesman Mr SeáO'Donoghue.
Mr Cannon, who has worked on trawlers in the Donegal port, sued the State in the 1980s after he failed to get a licence for a trawler. He was granted a licence in 1986, but was unable to put a trawler into the water until 1989, by which time the rules had changed.
The High Court ruled that the Department had delayed dealing with his application and awarded him costs and damages.