Strabane Farmer Fined For Pollution Offence

A farmer in Strabane, Co Tyrone, has been fined for a pollution offence.

Stephen Carson was convicted of making a polluting discharge to a waterway at Strabane Magistrates' Court.

He pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000 plus £15 Offenders Levy.

On 13 October 2016, Water Quality Inspectors (WQIs), acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), inspected a tributary of the River Derg at Tievenny Road, Ardstraw, and observed what appeared to be a milky white agricultural discharge flowing from an orange pvc pipe and entering the waterway.

The inspectors walked upstream and at various points along the waterway pollution in the form of heavy fungal growth was observed. They entered a farm at Tievenny Road and were directed to speak with Mr Stephen Carson. Discussion was entered into about a recently constructed milking parlour in July 2016 and misconnected pipework being at fault. When offered one portion of the statutory sample Mr Stephen Carson declined. At a follow up visit on 22 November 2016 the milky discharge to the waterway was still occurring.

On a further visit on 09 December 2016 it was observed that pipework had been installed to take the effluent from the milking parlour to a slurry tank and no discharge to the waterway was noted. The discharge to the waterway visibly impacted it for a distance of some 670 metres.

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.

SF Condemns Alert In L'Derry

Sinn Féin has condemned a security alert in Co L'Derry.

Mr Raymond McCartney MLA said the alert in the Lettershandoney "do nothing for the image of Derry".

He said: "These alerts have caused disruption in the area, on two occasions residents were asked to leave their homes.

"This was a reckless attack and the last thing the people of Derry want.

"Whoever is behind this alert needs to realise they do not represent the people of Derry and stop these futile actions immediately.

"Anyone with any information on these alerts should bring it forward to the PSNI."

SDLP Calls For Prescription Drug abuse To Be Tackled

SDLP Communities Spokesperson and North Belfast MLA Nichola Mallon has said that the abuse of prescription medication is an epidemic devastating and terrorising families and communities across Northern Ireland.

Following comments made by Coroner Joe McCrisken, she said: "The abuse of prescription medication is an epidemic devastating and terrorising families and communities across the North. Statutory and voluntary agencies are doing all they can to hold back the tide but without strategic and resourced support from government, they are fighting a losing battle.

"Services are stretched. People are dying. Families and communities are being plunged into grief. So serious is the situation that the coroner has now spoken out about the impact the absence of an Executive is having. Joe McCrisken's comments clearly come from a place of genuine frustration and sincere concern – he should be listened to."

(CD/MH)