20/11/2015

Farmer Fined For Polluting L'Derry Waterway

A Co Londonderry farmer has been fined £1,500 after pleading guilty to making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

Paul O’Kane, Gortnagross Road, Dungiven, was fined at Limavady Magistrates' Court.

On 26 June 2014, Water Quality Inspectors, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency inspected the Gelvin River adjacent to the Gelvin Road. The bed of the waterway was covered in a grey fungal growth. The polluting discharge was traced to farm premises on the Gortnagross Road owned by Mr Paul O’Kane. The Inspectors observed farm effluent flowing through a storm manhole on the farm; a dye test confirmed the effluent made its way to the waterway. The Inspector estimated that 750 metres of the waterway was impacted by this discharge.

The Gelvin River is in an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI). The polluted watercourse is a tributary of the River Roe which supports a population of Atlantic salmon which are of international importance.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Anyone wishing to report a pollution incident can call the 24 hour Water Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.

(MH)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

06 March 2024
Appeal Following Fatal Collision On Curr Road
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following a fatal road traffic collision on Tuesday, 05 march between Omagh and Ballygawley. Shortly before 7.25pm on Tuesday evening, police received a report of a collision on the Curr Road involving a white BMW 320 and blue Scania lorry.
04 March 2024
Two Men Arrested In £500,000 Drug Seiure In South Belfast
Two men have been arrested in connection with a £500,000 drug seizure following searches in South Belfast. On Friday, 01 March, detectives from the PSNI's Organised Crime Branch stopped and searched two vehicles in the Lisburn Road area. Class B controlled drugs were recovered from both vehicles which were also subsequently seized.
15 April 2024
PSNI Appeal For Information Following Banbridge Shooting
PSNI Detectives have issued an appeal for information following a shooting incident in Banbridge on Friday, 12 April. Shortly after 8pm, it was reported that a man aged in his 40s had been shot in his abdomen while in the car park on Rathfriland Road. Taken to hospital, his condition has been described as serious.
27 March 2012
Farmer Fined For Pollution Offence
A Co Antrim farmer was fined £750 plus court costs of £24 at Ballymena Magistrates' Court today. Mr Richard Millar of Drumfin Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
13 September 2010
Quarry Business Fined For Pollution
A Co Tyrone business has been fined £750 plus £22 court costs at Omagh Magistrates' Court. McGarrity Brothers Ltd, Inishitave Road, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.