Arrabawn Dairies has been ordered to pay a total of €3,659 in fines and costs following a prosecution by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
Ballinasloe District Court heard that on 24 October 2019 IFI staff noticed a discharge of polluting matter entering Deerpark River from Arrabawn Dairies, Kilconnell, Co Galway.
Results from samples showed higher than recommended levels for a number of parameters, including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), ammonia and suspended solids.
Unfortunate timing
The presiding magistrate, Judge Gearty, convicted Arrabawn Dairies under Section 171 of the Fisheries Acts and Section 4 of the Local Government water pollution Acts.
Fisheries assistant inspector Arnold Donnelly gave evidence emphasising the polluting nature of the discharge and that it was particularly unfortunate that the discharge occurred at a time of year when fish spawn in the river.
Judge Gearty fined the company €1,000 and awarded costs of €2,659 to Inland Fisheries Ireland.
“Arrabawn treated this matter, as it does all its environmental obligations, very seriously and has put measures in place to avoid any repeat,” a spokesperson for Arrabawn told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Essential protection
Director of the Shannon River Basin District at Inland Fisheries Ireland David Mc Inerney said: “Pollution events such as this have a very negative impact on water quality which is essential for the health of fish.
“The Deerpark River System is a tributary of the River Suck and holds excellent stocks of wild brown trout, crayfish and brook lamprey. Protection of water quality and habitats is critical to our rivers and fisheries ecosystems.”
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Arrabawn Dairies has been ordered to pay a total of €3,659 in fines and costs following a prosecution by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
Ballinasloe District Court heard that on 24 October 2019 IFI staff noticed a discharge of polluting matter entering Deerpark River from Arrabawn Dairies, Kilconnell, Co Galway.
Results from samples showed higher than recommended levels for a number of parameters, including Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), ammonia and suspended solids.
Unfortunate timing
The presiding magistrate, Judge Gearty, convicted Arrabawn Dairies under Section 171 of the Fisheries Acts and Section 4 of the Local Government water pollution Acts.
Fisheries assistant inspector Arnold Donnelly gave evidence emphasising the polluting nature of the discharge and that it was particularly unfortunate that the discharge occurred at a time of year when fish spawn in the river.
Judge Gearty fined the company €1,000 and awarded costs of €2,659 to Inland Fisheries Ireland.
“Arrabawn treated this matter, as it does all its environmental obligations, very seriously and has put measures in place to avoid any repeat,” a spokesperson for Arrabawn told the Irish Farmers Journal.
Essential protection
Director of the Shannon River Basin District at Inland Fisheries Ireland David Mc Inerney said: “Pollution events such as this have a very negative impact on water quality which is essential for the health of fish.
“The Deerpark River System is a tributary of the River Suck and holds excellent stocks of wild brown trout, crayfish and brook lamprey. Protection of water quality and habitats is critical to our rivers and fisheries ecosystems.”
Read more
Cork farmer fined €8,000 for polluting river
Cork farmer fined €10,000 after death of pipe-laying contractor
Company fined €50,000 after incident on Waterford farm building
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