Two men have been convicted of illegal hunting hares and hunting on land without permission in Clare.
The two men, with addresses in Limerick city, pleaded guilty at sittings of Ennis District Court in March and April of this year after failing to attend an initial hearing two years ago.
At sittings of Ennis District Court on March 13th and April 8th, Simon Casey of 12 Clonlong, South Hill, Limerick and Padraig Casey of 13 Clonlong South Hill, Limerick, pleaded guilty and were convicted for breaching Section 44 of the Wildlife Act 1976.
Under the Wildlife Act, it’s an offence to hunt an exempted wild mammal, namely a hare, without lawful authority.
The incident occurred on October 23rd, 2022 in the townland of Teergonean in Doolin where Christopher O’Donovan of 3 Glen North Halting Site, Ennistymon, Simon Casey and Padraig Casey, were observed hunting with lurcher type dogs by National Parks and Wildlife Service authorised staff.
An Garda Siochána assisted the NPWS with the investigation.
The case taken by the NPWS and prosecuted by Lorcan Connolly, barrister-at-law, and Aisling Casey, state solicitor, was first heard on June 21st 2024.
Christopher O’Donovan was convicted and fined €300, while Padraig Casey and Simon Casey failed to attend court.
After Judge Alec Gabbett issued a bench warrant for their arrest to be brought before court, the cases came back before Ennis District Court on March 13th and April 8th of this year.
Judge Valerie Corcoran, on foot of guilty pleas, convicted both men for breach of section 44 of the Wildlife Act, 1976, fining Simon Casey €500 and Padraig Casey €300.
Commenting on the case, Fianna Fáil Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, says “illegal hunting is a significant threat to populations of the Irish hare in the wider countryside” and this case highlights the cooperation between the National Parks & Wildlife Service, An Garda Síochána and landowners in investigating and prosecuting these offences”.
Additionally, he thanked An Garda Síochána “for their assistance in this case, ensuring that the offenders were brought before the courts”.
