A longshoreman working in Port Elizabeth has lost his job after intentionally mowing down a flock of birds, according to the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor.

The commission earlier this month yanked the longshoreman's license of Terence O'Regan after a hearing before an administrative law judge, who called the killing of at least 15 birds "bizarre and dangerous," the commission said in a statement.

In December 2016, O'Regan drove a straddle carrier -- a vehicle at least 35 feet high and 100,000 pounds used for loading and unloading containers from ships -- through a flock of ring-billed gulls about 20 to 30 feet out of his way, officials said in the statement.

After killing the birds, O'Regan then continued working without notifying his supervisors, officials said.

O'Regan was ultimately charged with violating the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, for which he was given a fine, the statement said.

O'Regan could not be reached at a telephone number listed in public records.

At the hearing on Jan. 9, the judge also found that O'Regan had "committed multiple acts of fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation" to obtain his longshoremen's license. O'Regan, according to the commission, also lied on sworn documents about a history of drug use.

According to officials at Maher Terminals, O'Regan's conduct as a longshoreman "risked serious harm to himself and his co-workers," the statement said.

The commission ultimately adopted the administrative law judge's findings and his recommendation to revoke O'Regan's license as a longshoreman.

O'Regan's ousting comes amid a bitter battle between New Jersey and the 60-year-old Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, which was created to root out crime and corruption by the mob on the docks of New York Harbor.

However, New Jersey recently agreed to temporarily pull back on those efforts, pending a federal court hearing next month.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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