The Naval Service has recorded the first fishery detention by a woman officer. The detention of a Spanish flagship off the south-west coast was carried out by Ensign Orlaith Gallagher, a member of a boarding party despatched by the patrol ship, LE Deirdre, under the command of Lieut-Cmmdr Brian Hevers.
The vessel, named Blithfield and registered in Britain, was apprehended 65 miles south-west of Mizen Head on Wednesday. It was escorted yesterday to Castletownbere, Co Cork, and handed over to the Garda for alleged retention of under-sized fish, logbook and other technical offences.