A 57-YEAR-old Spanish fisherman has been convicted and fined €750 because the rope ladder on his vessel was ‘defective’ when navy personnel tried to board it for an inspection.

Jesus Castro Paz of Riberia, A Coruna, Spain appeared at Bandon District Court on Monday.

He was charged that on May 15th last as the master of ‘Faro Silleiro’ he failed to provide a boarding ladder to facilitate safe access to the fishing vessel.

State solicitor Darragh Healy said that the rope ladder produced when inspectors attempted to board the ship was ‘defective.’

He said the inspectors aborted the mission and instead inspected the vessel at Castletownbere port.

Defence solicitor Dermot Conway pointed out that a second ladder was immediately produced by his client but that the Naval Service had already determined that an offence had taken place.

He said his client, who has no previous convictions, has been fishing for 40 years and is two years short of his retirement.

‘They had hauled fish and were at the end of the operation. The board ladder was put out for the navy personnel without it being checked,’ said Mr Conway.

‘He accepts full responsibility for this.’

Judge Joanne Carroll said while it was an ‘oversight’ it was fortunate that no one was injured and she convicted and fined Mr Paz €750.