The Auckland District Court has sentenced an Auckland man, hit two fishery officers with his car, to nine months supervision, 75 hours community work, and also ordered to attend an anger management programme. Patrick Hurae Tobin, 41, from Glen Eden, director of Toby’s Seafood Limited, attempted to run down two Auckland fishery officers in June 2007.
According to the news source the incident occurred after Tobin’s brother, Craig John Tobin, 35, from Otara was arrested for obstructing fishery officers when he was stopped in a truck carrying fish, as part of an ongoing investigation into serious breaches against the Fisheries Act. His vehicle was ordered back to the Ministry of Fisheries Auckland office but later the same day Patrick Tobin arrived at the office asking that the vehicle be released.
After that he was asked to leave the premises but declined and started shouting abuse at fishery officers, attempting to run them down in his own vehicle. It is said that Tobin drove into the first officer striking him on the knee and then reversed back, revved the engine and drove forward in to the second officer. Tobin then drove away from the scene gesturing out the window and yelling expletives. The officers received cuts, abrasions, and bruising as a result of the incident which was later referred to Police as an assault case.
MFish Investigations Manager, Mark Nicholson, informed that the enforcement and protection of New Zealand’s valuable fisheries resources is of paramount importance to the Ministry of Fisheries fishery officers. He further said that fishery officers conduct their duties in a totally professional manner and these actions by Tobin are particularly disturbing and disappointing for us.
