Four trawler owners were sent for trial yesterday on a total of 67 charges of breaching EU and Irish laws.
After an 80-minute hearing in English and Irish, because one skipper insisted that his proceedings be in Irish, Judge Joseph Mangan remanded Seán Flaherty, John O'Donnell, Brendan Gill and Michael Cavanagh on €100 bail each to the next sitting of Donegal town Circuit Court on March 27th.
He rejected an attempt by Mr O'Donnell's solicitor not to send him forward for trial until determination of a legal challenge already under way by other trawlermen.
Diarmuid Barry said that five challenges to the constitutionality of other committals to the Circuit Court were under judicial review in the High Court. He believed Mr O'Donnell's case would be prejudiced if it was not adjourned until there was a decision from the judicial review.
Mr Barry held aloft a two-inch-thick file and said it was the book of evidence - "the largest I have ever seen in 25 years of dealing with fisheries cases". It had been served just before yesterday's proceedings. Judge Mangan rejected the plea and returned his client for trial.
Mr O'Donnell, from Cloghane, Tralee, Co Kerry, faces four charges of making false log-book entries when fishing out of Killybegs on his trawler, the Holly B.
The defendants are accused of under-reporting catch sizes and of making false log-book entries in 2003 and 2004. Evidence of serving the books of evidence was given by Det Garda David Foley of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in Dublin.
Tom O'Connor SC, prosecuting, said the Attorney General had consented to the cases being sent for trial to the higher court.
Mr Cavanagh, of Greencastle, Co Donegal, skipper of the Fr McKee, faces 24 charges; Mr Gill, also of Greencastle, skipper of the Brendelen, faces 25 charges, and Mr Flaherty, from Ros a Mhíl, Baile Na hAbhann, Co Galway, skipper of the Glor Na dTonn, is accused of 14 offences.