A hunter, who shot and killed a male red deer after the open season had finished without licence from the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, was convicted of the offence and fined €300 at Galway District Court yesterday.
Mark Quinlan (37), Cluain Mhór, Clybaun Road, Salthill, Galway, pleaded guilty to hunting the deer between February 1st and 28th last year at Recess, Connemara, without permission or licence from the Minister, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 23(5) of the Wildlife Act, 1976, as amended by Section 31 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.
The court heard Quinlan, a construction manager and experienced hunter, was contracted by Connemara farmer Noel Joyce to rid his lands of a "troublesome" male red deer. The Irish Farmers' Association, which is involved in deer management nationwide, had initially contacted him on behalf of Mr Joyce, to hunt the deer.
National Parks and Wildlife conservation officer Ger O'Don-nell gave evidence that his office only became aware of the shooting when Quinlan and the farmer who asked him to kill the deer contacted the Wildlife Service afterwards. He said the open season for deer runs from September 1st to December 31st.
The court heard Quinlan thought he was acting within the law believing he could shoot the animal out of season if it was causing damage.