Two men, Mr. Scaletchi Dumitru of Bettystown, Co. Meath, and Mr. Veaceslav Verdes, of 51 Bathe Abbey, Duleek, Co. Meath, appeared before Dundalk District Court on Tuesday, December 15th, charged under the Wildlife Acts of illegal hunting and possessing three hundred and forty-five live, and five dead White Clawed Crayfish. The species is legally protected by the Irish Wildlife Acts and listed on Annex II and Annex V of the European Habitats Directive. The offense took place at the Grand Canal at Baronrath Bridge, Ardclough, Co. Kildare, on June 30th, 2019. The case was taken by the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS), through State Solicitor Liam Keane. Outlining the facts of the case to Judge Erinn McKiernan, NPWS Conservation Ranger Kieran Buckley told the Court, the defendants were caught with two buckets full of crayfish. All of the live crayfish were later released back into the Grand Canal unharmed.