The court case was in relation to Wrights of Howth, Galway Ltd, Unit 2, Galway Harbour Enterprise Park, Co. Galway. After a partial hearing in Dublin District Court, when authorised officers from the FSAI and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority gave evidence, Wrights of Howth, Galway Ltd entered a plea of guilty to all seven summons on which they were charged, and seven similar summonses against Mark Wright, a director of Wrights of Howth, Galway Ltd were struck out.
It is said that the FSAI brought these proceedings following an investigation by FSAI authorised officers into breaches of food legislation. Wrights of Howth, Galway Ltd was pleaded guilty for the charges include the false declaration of the method of production for salmon darnes which described them as ‘caught at sea’; the false declaration of the catch area for salmon darnes as ‘FAO 27’ – ‘N. East Atlantic’; the false declaration of a Portuguese premises approval number on cooked whole crab (indicating that it processed in Portugal), when in fact the product was actually processed in Ireland and etc.
In a court ruling Judge Ní Chondúin, said whilst she was looking at this case in the light of a product area where there are loose practices, she hopes that this will change. Saying that whilst she understood how businesses work, the consumer was at the end of this. She also told that she was sending out a message not to do this again. As a consequence of the plea entered by Wrights of Howth, Galway Ltd they are to make a contribution of €5,000 to the Children in Hospital Fund and to make a contribution of €10,000 to the costs and witness expenses of the FSAI. The matter stands adjourned for one week for payment.
According to the FSAI the court ruling stating that the legal proceedings should send a strong warning to all food businesses that breaches of food legislation will not be tolerated.
