Wicklow TD Calls For Ministers To Compensate Wicklow Fisherman.

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to intervene directly in the issue of the Wicklow boat the MV Mary Kate

Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady speaking at the Dáil Petitions Committee following evidence given by Arklow Fisherman CJ Gaffney, has called on Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to intervene directly in the issue of the MV Mary Kate in order to cut through the wall of obfuscation constructed by Ministers Charlie McConalogue and Eamon Ryan.

Following years of frustration and false leads and unnecessary roadblocks put in place by government Ministers CJ Gaffney continue with the fight to find justice for their case. Gaffney’s appearance before the Committee was described by acting chair of the Petitions Committee Sinn Féin TD Pat Buckley as lastchance.com.Brady said: “In 2007, CJ Gaffney purchased a Dutch fishing trawler, the Mary Kate WD30, in Holland and through several surveys was deemed fit for purpose by the Marine Service Office. Subsequently in 2009, the fishing trawler was found to have serious stability issues, tests showed 20 tonnes of unaccounted steel were in the vessel.An issue that was found to “be a fault with this particular type of vessel across Europe, and indeed many EU states have taken action to protect their own fisheries. The Gaffney family have been put through 15 years of torture. CJ Gaffney has been left with his life in ruins as a result of the callous indifference of the coalition government to take on board the advice of the European Commission and provide compensation for the costs incurred due to the stability flaws in a fishing vessel, the MV Mary Kate, which had been certified by the EU.