Plant hire company and windfarm prosecuted for pollution of Leitrim river
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has today (Wednesday, April 23) confirmed two separate prosecutions against a wind farm and a plant hire company for the pollution of a river in Co. Leitrim.
The IFI said both pollution incidents occurred within the Bonet River and Belhavel Lough catchment in Co. Leitrim.
According to the IFI the specific location of the incidents was at Lisnagowan.
One of the incidents involved Tullynamoyle Windfarm 5 Ltd in January 2024.
The windfarm was found to have caused 'silt to flow into a tributary of the River Bonet'.
At a hearing at Sligo District Court on February 24, 2025 Tullynamoyle Windfarm 5 Ltd was instructed to pay a fine of €3,500, and €1,400 in costs and expenses to IFI.
River Bonet
According to Mary Walsh, IFI Western region director (Ballina) the Bonet river 'is a sensitive habitat and is under environmental pressure'.
'The fishery is only open on a catch-and-release basis due to declining salmon stocks there.
'This was a significant pollution incident which potentially impacted the water quality, and posed a serious threat to our natural environment and fish populations,' she added.
Separately IFI also prosecuted a plant hire company after a discharge of sediment entered the Bonet River system.
The incident, which took place in January 2024, happened at Lisnagowan within the Bonet River and Belhavel Lough catchment in Co. Leitrim.
At a hearing at Sligo District Court on Monday, February 24, 2025, Norris Plant Hire Limited was 'given the benefit of the Probation Act and ordered to give a contribution of €1,000 to a charity, and also pay costs/expenses of €1,000 to IFI'.
IFI is urging people to report water pollution, fish kills, or issues of concern in their local rivers/lakes to its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
Uncle and nephew fined for illegal salmon fishing near West Cork island
An uncle and nephew have been convicted in the district court of illegally fishing for wild salmon in waters near Dursey Island in West Cork. Bernard O'Leary from Dursey Island and his nephew John O'Leary from Templemartin, Bandon, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to a total of 11 charges in relation to illegal fishing activities in July 2024. Giving evidence, Fisheries Officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland Dermot Long said that a covert operation had been set up in the early hours of July 10, 2024, at Dursey Sound. Mr Long said that Bernard and John O'Leary were observed through scopes from 6.30am in the waters to the north of Dursey Island. The two men were observed catching several salmon with nets and placing them into a large canvas bag on their boat. Mr Long said that by the time the men stopped fishing at 3pm it was estimated they had placed 12 to 15 salmon in the bag. Mr Long said that the bag was so heavy it required the two men to lift it when they went ashore to the island for a break. They were observed returning to the boat at 4.30pm when they resumed fishing for another three hours. They again came ashore with a canvas bag full of salmon and loaded it into a Toyota Landcruiser. At this point Mr Long said the decision was taken to intercept the two men at the pier. When they were approached, Bernard O'Leary was described as uncooperative. Mr Long said that Bernard O'Leary got back in the boat ignoring an officer's demand that he stop and went across Dursey Sound to the island where he got in a jeep on the other side and drove off. Mr Long said that John O'Leary was fully co-operative and 'couldn't have been more helpful'. He said that 13 salmon were seized from the afternoon catch and the jeep was also seized, though it was returned after about six months. Mr Long said that he could not seize the net or the salmon the O'Learys caught in the morning because Bernard O'Leary refused to co-operate. Mr Long said that John O'Leary had asked Bernard O'Leary on his behalf to surrender the salmon and the net but he did not do so. Defence solicitor Brian Harrington said that both men had no previous convictions of any kind and were pleading guilty. He said that John O'Leary accepted he had 'made a mistake which has caused him an awful lot of embarrassment'. He said the jeep that was seized was one that he had borrowed which added further embarrassment to the situation. Mr Harrington said that Bernard O'Leary had retired from fishing many years ago and maintained a small flock of sheep on Dursey Island. He said that Mr O'Leary was available on the island if officers had called to him. Sentencing Judge Joanne Carroll said that it was a very serious matter and that Bernard O'Leary 'cannot live on Dursey Island and not realise it is illegal to go out and fish wild salmon with nets'. The judge said 'it was more than a mistake, it was a criminal act,' and she suspected that Bernard O'Leary had sold the fish that were not recovered which would fetch up to €100 each on the black market 'unless he gave them to the cat'. John O'Leary was convicted and fined €1,000 for the possession of the 13 salmon and €500 for illegally fishing with drift nets. The other three charges against him were struck out. Bernard O'Leary was convicted and fined €1,500 for obstruction, €1,500 for the illegal possession of salmon and €1,000 for fishing with drift nets. A further three charges were taken into consideration. Both men were given six months to pay the fines and recognisance in the event of an appeal was fixed in their own bond of €100. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
‘Appalling behaviour' by Louth man who soiled himself
Robert Quinn (42), Rockfield, Stoney Lane, Ardee, pleaded guilty to damaging the vehicle, using or engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour or words, failing to provide a garda with his name and address and resisting a peace officer in the execution of his duty. Evidence was presented that at 1am on May 11 last Gardaí were alerted to two groups of men fighting at Bridge Street, Ardee. The defendant, who was among them, had earlier been given a direction to leave the area. He was 'highly intoxicated' and was arrested. It was the belief of Gardaí that he deliberately soiled himself in the patrol car. He was also spitting and kicking. It cost €200 to clean the vehicle which represented the damage charge. Barrister Eoghan Fagan said that Mr Quinn was due to begin work as a cleaner. He held three Degrees including for Cultural Studies. A father of one he was engaging with Turas Counselling Service. He wanted to pay compensation. There were no previous convictions. 'The description of the behaviour that night is appalling. The behaviour is appalling,' Judge Gráinne Malone remarked. The court gave Mr Quinn until Ardee Court on September 12 to pay €500 compensation to the Gardaí and €500 to Dundalk Women's Aid to get the benefit of the Probation Act.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Man delivering drugs to wrong house in Youghal was caught by doorbell video footage
A man who posted three packages of cocaine through the letterbox of the wrong house in Youghal, Co Cork, was identified from footage recorded by the property's video doorbell, the district court has heard. Court presenter Sergeant Majella O'Sullivan told Youghal District Court that the incident occurred on December 23, 2023. A resident in the town discovered three plastic bags containing white powder that had been posted through their letterbox. It was later confirmed that the bags contained cocaine. The court was told that the accused man, Jack Kenneally, aged 24 of Raheen Park in Youghal was identified putting the packages through the letterbox by footage recorded on a video doorbell. Following his identification, a warrant was obtained to search Mr Kenneally's address where quantities of cocaine and cannabis were found in his bedroom. The total value of the drugs seized was €238 in cocaine and €20 in cannabis. The court heard that Mr Kenneally had made full admissions and had no previous convictions. The court was told that on the night in question he had been out drinking with friends and was asked to drop the packages off as a favour. The court heard that he was 'highly embarrassed' by what had happened and had not been in trouble since. Judge Brian O'Shea said the incident sounded like 'something from a YouTube video'. He said that as the incident with the letterbox was a first offence he would give Mr Kenneally the benefit of the Probation Act. For the drugs found at his home he was convicted and fined €500 for the cocaine and given six months to pay. The cannabis was taken into consideration. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
