A group of anglers on the Gweebarra River yesterday morning.
By Cronan Scanlon
GARDAI were called yesterday after a protest in relation to the long-running Gweebarra fishery dispute turned sour.
A number of local anglers were fishing at the ‘Mayo pool’ near Doochary, when a confrontation took place between them and officers from Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) at around lunchtime.
Members of The Fintown Angling Club and the Rosses Angling Club have been involved in a bitter dispute with IFI for at least five years.
The row centres around a demand by the IFI for a fee of €50 per day for fishing the Gweebarra system. However, the anglers claim IFI only have rights to part of the river.
A number of members of both clubs began fishing at the Mayo pool yesterday morning. At around noon, however, IFI officers arrived on the scene along with local Gardai.
A spokesman for the Donegal Game Anglers, Mr Noel Carr, told the Donegal News that a dispute arose between the anglers and the officers after they failed to produce the €50 day permits.
Mr Carr said the anglers’ rods and catches were seized and he described the behaviour of the officers as “disgraceful.”
An IFI spokesperson could not be contacted yesterday.
See Monday’s print edition of the Donegal News for full report.
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