LacPatrick Dairies has pleaded guilty to causing a polluting discharge from an anaerobic digester, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

The case was heard at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on 4 May, and the co-op was ordered to pay £5,000 in fines.

Discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter

Extensive grey fungus, discharge and sludge worms were discovered by water quality inspectors who were acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

Samples taken confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter, which had the potential to be harmful to fish life in the polluted waterway.

A number of inspections were undertaken, and samples were collected by inspectors between 30 July 2015 and 15 April 2016, and inspectors concluded that the ongoing pollution had been caused by defective silage storage at the site.

LacPatrick response

A spokesperson for LacPatrick stated that the co-op acknowledged the ruling of the court and that the Ballyrashane site had since ramped up it's efforts to address any shortcomings.

"LacPatrick fully accepts the court's decision to impose a £5,000 fine (out of a maximum of £80,000) having pleaded guilty to the charges," the spokesperson said.

No damage to fish or human health as result of these accepted breeches.

"It is also critical to note that there was no damage to fish or human health as result of these accepted breeches.

"We hired a hydrologist to carry out an investigation into the flooding and contamination of the site’s surface water.

"We have also ramped up our audit schedules and the relevant silage clamps have been cleared."

The spokesperson also stated that environmental sustainability was part of the co-op ethos and that they worked proactively with NIEA and the Environmental Protection Agency at each of the co-op's sites on both sides of the border.

Additional offences

In 2016, LacPatrick was fined £4,500 for the offence relating to the deposit, treating, keeping and disposal of controlled waste.

Between January 2014 and May 2015, officers from the NIEA disclosed 5,651t of waste that had been infilled without the proper authorisations in the site that was Ballyrashane co-op’s processing facility.

This was made up of clay, construction and demolition waste alongside plastics, metals and timber.

The case occurred before the merger between Ballyrashane and Town of Monaghan co-ops in July 2015.

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