UPDATE: Irish naval vessel en route to the Southwest coast of Cork after reports of an alleged incident off Castletownbere

Friday, 28 May 2021 14:27

It comes after Cork TD Michael Collins urged the state and the navy to immediately intervene in what he described as an ongoing 'international incident'

Deputy Micheal Collins claims a Spanish trawler fishing illegally within Irish waters has attempted to ram an Irish trawler in an incident that has been ongoing since 8am this morning.

The West Cork TD says Irish fishing trawlers in the area are now sailing towards the incident to prevent the Spanish trawler from entering Irish waters to reel in its nets.

In a statement issued to RedFM News the Irish Naval Service confirmed that they have received a number of reports about an alleged incident in the area and are currently conducting an investigation using satellite tracking systems and Vessel Monitoring System data in the National Fisheries Monitoring Centre at the Naval Base

A naval vessel has also been dispatched to the scene as part of this investigation

Speaking to RedFM News, Micheal Collins says the navy must intervene:

"We've called on the SFP, the Taoiseach, the Irish Navy to intervene. And sadly... It's very, very... It's astonishing to say the least that none of them have intervened at this specific time. That Spanish trawler is in illegal waters number one, he's attempting to ram an Irish trawler number two, and he had fished now in illegal seas - on the Irish side of the 12-mile zone, and no action being taken whatsoever. It's an act of nothing short of piracy, and they're getting away with it."