Noel Dempsey
Question:33 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the number of prosecutions for deer poaching in the County Wicklow area in each of the years from 1994 to 1996. [1364/97]
Written Answers. - Deer Poaching.
In the period 1994-96 one prosecution was brought by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department for deer poaching related offences in the County Wicklow area. The person prosecuted in this case was convicted and fined £850 for offences in relation to the possession, supply and trade in vension contrary to the Wildlife Act, 1976. The conviction is, I understand, currently under appeal before the courts. In addition to this conviction, a prosecution for offences in February 1996 relating to the illegal hunting of deer in County Wicklow is expected to come before the courts shortly.