Allleged assault on fishing inspector
Wednesday, 30 July 2008 16:49Gardaí in Kilmore Quay in Wexford are investigating an alleged minor assault at the harbour in Kilmore yesterday.
The incident occurred as Sea Fisheries Protection Authority officers tried to board a vessel to carry out an inspection.
An estimated crowd of more than 150 people gathered as three fishing vessels owned by the O'Flaherty brothers docked to unload their catches.
During the inspections, sections of the crowd started shouting abuse at the fisheries officers. Gardaí are investigating if one of them was pushed by a person carrying a placard.
This follows another protest last week at the harbour.
Fisherman John O'Flaherty says he now fears that the situation could get out of hand, describing the scenes yesterday as very ugly and nasty.
He claims vast sections of the community are very angry as some fishermen have only made €5,000 this year.
Six gardaí attended the scene.
The O'Flahertys say the SFPA officers were not stopped from boarding the vessels at any time.
