Inland Fisheries Ireland Prosecutes Arrabawn Dairies for pollution to Deerpark River
Arrabawn Dairies were fined €1,000 at Ballinasloe District Court on Thursday, 1st of October 2020 following a prosecution by Inland Fisheries Ireland. The court heard that on the 24th of 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.
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.
David Mc Inerney, Director of the Shannon River Basin District at Inland Fisheries Ireland 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.’
Inland Fisheries Ireland has a confidential 24 hour hotline 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24 to enable members of the general public to report incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution, fish kills and invasive species.
