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. 22407Fishing offences (breaches of EU fishing regulations) · Co. Cork · 3 Feb 2023

Spanish fishing captain returned for trial on 25 fishing offences in Irish waters

Ramon Novo Martinez, 57, a Spanish fishing captain, was charged with 25 breaches of EU fishing regulations in Irish waters off the southwest coast and returned for trial at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 17 February 2023. Judge James McNulty reduced the vessel bond from €310,000 to €100,000 and set a €5,000 cash bond for the accused.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court13 Feb
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe suspect was charged with 25 alleged breaches of EU fishing regulations in Irish waters off the southwest coast. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe suspect is the Master of the Spanish owned but German registered vessel Ortegall Tres. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFour of the charges were logbook offences for failing to record the proper depth at which the vessel was fishing. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFour charges were for failing to record the proper soak times or times the nets were allowed to stay in the water. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatSeventeen charges were for allowing nets to exceed the permitted soak times of 72 hours, contrary to Section 14 of the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe suspect was arrested at Deenish Pier, Castletownbere, on 13 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred on various dates between a date unknown in December 2022 and 3 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe vessel was detained at Castletownbere after being escorted there by the Naval Service. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe DPP directed trial by indictment and the case was returned to Cork Circuit Criminal Court on 17 February 2023. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge James McNulty reduced the vessel bond to €100,000 and set a cash bond of €5,000 for the accused. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge allowed the accused to stay on board his boat rather than be held at Cork Prison until the cash bond was lodged. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe SFPA valued the catch at €122,000 and the gear at almost €29,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence estimated the catch to be worth €40,000, disputing the SFPA valuation. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe defence argued the winch aboard the vessel was broken and the nets could not be hauled manually. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Feb2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Spanish fishing captain returned for trial on 25 fishing offences in Irish waters

    Details of the 25 charges (four logbook depth offences, four soak-time recording offences, 17 net soak-time offences), the arrest at Deenish Pier, the DPP directing trial by indictment, the bond dispute between the State and defence, and Judge McNulty's ruling reducing the vessel bond to €100,000 and setting a €5,000 personal cash bond.

    suspect, Ramon Novo Martinez, 57, male, Spanish, named, non-irishRamon Novo Martinez