22-04-2025
IFI prosecutes farming firm for ‘polluting' Co. Mayo river
A farming firm has been prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) for the pollution of a river in Co. Mayo.
IFI said today (Tuesday, April 22) that it welcomed the ruling delivered at Ballina District Court that Gilvarry Farming Limited had caused silage effluent to flow into a tributary of the Cloonaghmore River.
The court heard that an incident had occurred on October 26, 2023 and of the impact the contamination had on the river, 'which was already under pressure from an environmental perspective'.
The incident occurred at Lisglennon, Killala, Co. Mayo.
During the case, which was heard at Ballina District Court on February 25, 2025, the court was also informed of the 'very poor condition of the farm at the time, which led to the discharge of silage effluent'.
IFI
Mary Walsh,IFI Western region director(Ballina), said: 'This pollution was needless and avoidable.
'Landowners should all pay due respect to the surrounding environment they work in.
'IFI is working hard to protect the salmon and trout populations on the Cloonaghmore river, and it is vital that the river's good water quality is maintained and protected'.
IFI
Walsh also said that the latest prosecution is part of IFI's 'very determined efforts to protect the State's rivers, streams, and lakes.'
Gilvarry Farming Limited was ordered to pay a donation of €2,000 to IFI's Salmon and Sea Trout Rehabilitation, Conservation and Protection Fund, in addition to paying costs and expenses of €2,000 to IFI.
The company was given the benefit of the Probation Act because it had carried out, what the court heard was, 'extraordinary' work to prevent a similar future occurrence, and did not have any previous convictions.
IFI is urging people to report water pollution or issues of concern in their local rivers and lakes to its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.
