The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated legal proceedings against Dunbia, after the company’s plant in Slane discharged what local residents described as a red, pungent effluent into a local stream in March 2016.

Dunbia pleaded guilty to failure to ensure that emissions took place as set out in its licence. The EPA described the offence as “unauthorised emission of untreated slaughter process effluent was discharged to a surface water drain from the installation”.

Dunbia also pleaded guilty to failure to notify the EPA as soon as practicable after the incident.

The court convicted the company, imposed fines totalling €5,000 and awarded legal costs in favour of the EPA, the agency told the Irish Farmers Journal in a statement.

“Dunbia offers our unreserved apologies for the incident which occurred in March 2016,” Dunbia said in a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal. “This was an isolated incident which we dealt with swiftly and appropriately at the time and the EPA has confirmed that there are no lasting impacts on the environment. We have since invested €50,000 in our factory in Slane to safeguard against any reoccurance and we continue to work very closely and positively with the EPA,” the company added.

UFU wins pollution court battle with DAERA

Dunbia fined €5,000 for water pollution

Meat processor Dunbia was found guilty of two offences in Navan District Court this Friday, following a pollution incident at its Co Meath plant last year.