Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2269Breach of EU fishing regulations (fishing offences) · Co. Cork · 16 Feb 2025

Dutch trawler master sent for trial over fishing offences in Cork

The German-registered factory supertrawler Helen Mary was detained by the European Fisheries Control Agency patrol vessel Ocean Protector on 16 February 2025, 60 nautical miles south of the Fastnet, for suspected breaches of EU fishing regulations. The 116-metre vessel, owned by Oberdank Hochsee Fisherei of Sassnitz-Neu Mukran, Germany, was escorted to the Port of Cork's Lisheen berth in Tivoli the following morning. Dutch master William Van Der Boon, aged 44 (reported as 40 in one source), was charged at the Port of Cork with seven offences, including failure to provide a boarding ladder and failure to comply with a Sea Fisheries Protection officer's direction. He appeared before Cork District Court on 20 February, made no reply to the charges, and was remanded on bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 28 April 2025.

  1. Reported17 Feb
    2 reports
  2. Arrested18 Feb
  3. Charged20 Feb
  4. In court20 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
The German-registered factory supertrawler Helen Mary was detained in Irish waters for alleged breaches of EU fishing regulations.
Where
The vessel was detained 60 nautical miles south of the Fastnet, within the Irish exclusive economic zone, and was brought to the Port of Cork's Lisheen berth in Tivoli.
When
The vessel was detained on Sunday 16 February 2025 and arrived in Cork Harbour at around 11 am on Monday 17 February.
Cause
The suspected infringements included a defective boarding ladder and documentary offences in breach of EU fishing regulations.
Investigation
The vessel was detected and detained by the EFCA patrol vessel Ocean Protector, with the inspection conducted by EFCA inspectors assisted by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and Gardaí.
Charges
Dutch master William Van Der Boon, aged 44 (reported as 40 in one source), was charged with seven breaches of EU fishing regulations, including one summary offence of failing to comply with a Sea Fisheries Protection officer's direction and six indictable offences.
In court
Van Der Boon appeared before Cork District Court on 20 February 2025, made no reply to the charges, and the DPP directed that the case be tried on indictment in the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork.
Sentence
He was remanded on bail on his own bond of €10,000 to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 28 April 2025.
Other details
  • The vessel, 116 metres long with a crew of 50, is owned by Oberdank Hochsee Fisherei of Sassnitz-Neu Mukran, Germany, and is registered in Rostock.
  • A bond of €425,000 was entered for the release of the vessel.
51 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe Helen Mary, a German-registered factory supertrawler, was detained in Irish waters for alleged fishery offences. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe German supertrawler Helen Mary was detained off the Cork coast on suspicion of fisheries offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe ship was escorted to Cork Harbour on Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe ship is 117 metres from bow to stern. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatThe ship will remain in Cork for the duration of the inspection. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatA German-registered factory supertrawler was detained off the south west coast of Ireland for suspected fishing infringements. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe master of a German-registered super trawler was charged with seven breaches of fishing regulations. (rte.ie)
  • whatThe captain of a factory supertrawler was charged with seven fishing offences off the Irish coast. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatAll seven charges relate to alleged breach of EU fishing regulations within the exclusive fisheries limits of the State. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne summary offence was failing to comply with the direction of a Sea Fisheries Protection officer on 16 February. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSix indictable offences included failure to provide a boarding ladder and documentary offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe Helen Mary is a 116 metre German-registered supertrawler owned by Oberdank Hochsee Fisherei of Sassnitz-Neu Mukran in Germany. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe vessel was brought into Cork Harbour. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe vessel was tied up at the Port of Cork's deep water berth at Lisheen in Tivoli. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe alleged offences took place in waters around 185 km off the coast of Cork. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe ship was outside the Irish territorial waters limit of 22 km but inside the exclusive economic zone of 320 km. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe ship's home port is in Rostock, Germany. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe vessel was fishing for scad or horse mackerel 60 nautical miles south of the Fastnet. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe vessel arrived at the Port of Cork. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe vessel was detained 60 nautical miles south of Fastnet. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe accused was charged at Lisheen Berth, Tivoli Docks in Cork. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenOfficers on the EFCA offshore patrol vessel detected the suspected infringements on Sunday. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe ship arrived in Cork at around 11 am on Monday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe vessel was detained on Sunday by the EFCA patrol vessel Ocean Protector. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe vessel was detained on the Sunday before the court appearance. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe vessel was allegedly defective in having a defective ladder in breach of EU fishing regulations. (rte.ie)
  • causeThe vessel was detained for suspected fishing infringements. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe suspected infringements involved a sea-fishing vessel in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe Helen Mary was detained by a patrol vessel from the European Fisheries Control Agency on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationThe ship was spotted by the Ocean Protector, a patrol vessel of the European Fisheries Control Agency, on Sunday. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationEFCA officials are conducting an inspection with the assistance of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and Gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationEuropean Union inspectors are leading the investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationGardaí confirmed a man in his 40s is being detained for alleged fishery breaches on board the vessel. (rte.ie)
  • investigationThe EFCA said a suspected infringement was found during an inspection at sea. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGarda Dermot Broughton gave evidence of the arrest, charge and caution of the master at the Port of Cork's Lisheen berth. (rte.ie)
  • investigationGarda Dermot Broughton of Mayfield Garda station gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe master faces seven charges, including failing to provide a safe boarding ladder. (rte.ie)
  • chargeThe master is charged with failing to comply with a direction from a Sea Fisheries Protection Authority inspector. (rte.ie)
  • courtGardaí were granted a court order to detain the vessel for up to 48 hours. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe master appeared before Cork District Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case be tried on indictment in the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe master was remanded on bail to appear before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 28 April. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe accused was remanded on bail to the next sitting of Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 28 April 2025. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe vessel was detained by the European Fisheries Control agency patrol boat Ocean Protector. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe Sea Fisheries Protection Authority issued a statement on the matter. (rte.ie)
  • otherEFCA inspectors always have Union inspectors from Member States on board when operating in EU waters, and the Union inspectors are the leading inspectors. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe vessel had a crew of 50. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe master's bail was set on his own bond of €10,000. (rte.ie)
  • otherA bond of €425,000 was entered into for the release of the vessel. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe owners of the Helen Mary agreed to lodge a €425,000 cash bond to allow the vessel to be released. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe Dutch master made no reply to any of the charges when charged. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Feb2025
    Chargedirishtimes.com, first report
    Dutch master charged with fishing offences off Irish coast

    First report of the charging and remand of the Dutch supertrawler captain on seven fishing offences, including boarding ladder and documentary charges, with a €425,000 bond agreed for the vessel's release.

    accused, William Van Der Boon, 40, male, Dutch, named, non-irishWilliam Van Der Boon
  2. 20 Feb2025
    In courtrte.ie, first report
    Trawler master charged with fishing regulation breaches

    First report of the case. Adds the seven charges, the detention 60 nautical miles south of Fastnet, the court appearance in Cork District Court, the bail bond terms and the trial date.

    accused, Willem Van Der Boon, 44, namedWillem Van Der Boon
  3. 18 Feb2025
    Arrestedrte.ie, follow-up
    Man detained after German supertrawler detained in Cork

    Names the vessel Helen Mary, says it was detained on Sunday for a defective ladder, that a man in his 40s is being detained on board, and that gardaí obtained a 48-hour court order to detain the vessel. The article does not name the man.

    suspect, 40s, male
  4. 17 Feb2025
    Reportedirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Huge German ship detained in Irish controlled waters over suspected offences

    Initial report of the detention of the Helen Mary by EFCA; the ship was escorted to Cork Harbour for inspection. No individual has been charged in this article.

  5. 17 Feb2025
    Reportedrte.ie, follow-up
    German registered trawler detained in Irish waters

    RTÉ reports the detention by the EFCA patrol boat Ocean Protector, the vessel's berthing at the Port of Cork's Lisheen berth in Tivoli, and a statement from the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority. It does not name the master or report any arrest or charge.