Latest news with #Water(NorthernIreland)Order1999
Agriland
09-06-2025
- Agriland
Farmer convicted at Tyrone court for water pollution offence
A Co. Tyrone farmer pleaded guilty and was convicted at Dungannon Magistrates' Court today (Monday, June 9) in relation to a water pollution offence. Harry Brown (62), Lurganeden Road, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone, pleaded guilty and was fined £1,500 plus a £15 offenders levy for a pollution offence that had impacted the Claggan River – a tributary of the Ballinderry River which flows into Lough Neagh. Dungannon Magistrates' Court heard that Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) water quality inspectors responded to a water pollution incident that took place between June 12 and June 13 last year. The NIEA inspectors discovered that 'dark grey coloured agricultural effluent was flowing along a ditch, alongside the Pomeroy Road, before discharging to the Claggan River'. The court was also informed that the inspectors 'traced the flow of effluent to farm premises at Lurganeden Road'. Brown, who was present on the farm, told the inspectors that he had been cleaning out one of the poultry houses. Dungannon Magistrates' Court also heard that a 'nearby wooded area was inspected and dark grey coloured agricultural effluent was observed to be actively flowing through that area, and then entering land drainage pipes, before discharge to the waterway'. Pollution As part of the investigation, a statutory sample of the discharge was collected and analysed. The sample results indicated that the sample 'contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to aquatic life in a receiving waterway'. According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) it is an offence under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 to 'make a polluting discharge to a waterway'. Water pollution management in Northern Ireland has been divided into nine areas. Each of the nine areas is staffed by an environmental health (rivers) officer (EHRO) or senior water quality inspector (SWQI) and a number of water quality inspectors (WQIs) who act as field agents on behalf of DAERA. If a pollution incident is reported to DAERA or is discovered during its work, the pollution response team 'will find and stop the source of the pollution, identify the polluter and when necessary collect enough evidence to secure a prosecution'. The department has also advised that if anyone wants to report a pollution incident they can call a 24-hour NIEA incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Agriland
06-06-2025
- Agriland
Court: NI farmer fined for water pollution offence
A court in Northern Ireland has fined a farmer for a water pollution offence arising from 'farm effluent' being discharged into a river. Hugh Allen of Drumahiskey Road, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim was convicted today (Friday, June 6) at Coleraine Magistrates' Court for an offence under Article 7(1)(a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, as amended. The 55-year-old had pleaded guilty and was fined £1,500 plus £15 offenders levy. Court The court heard that Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) water quality inspectors responded to a report of dead fish in the Ballymoney River on June 18, 2024. The inspectors carried out their investigation in an upstream direction to where grey fungus was visible on the bed of the Ballymoney River. The inspectors traced the polluting impact further upstream to a location where a concrete pipe was actively discharging farm effluent to the waterway. As part of the investigation, a statutory sample of the discharge was collected and analysed. The sample results indicated that the sample contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to aquatic life in a receiving waterway. On June 19, 2024, inspectors examined the silo area on the suspected farm. A silage effluent collection channel was noted to have been blocked with grass and as a result silage effluent was discharging from the silage clamp into a piped drain before entering the Ballymoney River. The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) advised anyone wishing to report a pollution incident to call the 24-hour NIEA Incident Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.
Agriland
28-04-2025
- Agriland
Court: 70-year-old convicted for agricultural pollution
A 70-year-old man has been convicted and fined in court in Northern Ireland today (Monday, April 28) over an incident involving the pollution of a river with agricultural effluent. Michael McCullagh, Gorticashel Road, Greencastle, Co Tyrone was convicted at Omagh Magistrates Court, under Article 7(1)(a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 as amended. McCullagh pleaded guilty and was fined £1,000 plus £15 Offenders Levy. The court heard that on October 17, 2023, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) water quality inspectors responded to a report of water pollution impacting the Carnanransy Burn, a tributary of the Owenkillew River. The inspectors discovered the entire width of the bed of the waterway was covered with fungal growth. The source of pollution was traced upstream to a concrete pipe which was actively discharging agricultural effluent to the Carnanransy Burn. Upstream of the pipe, the waterway was visibly clean. Agricultural pollution On the farm, close to the silos, the inspectors observed agricultural effluent being directed towards a collection tank. The collection tank was observed to be full and overflowing, resulting in a dark-coloured liquid entering an open drainage channel, which was connected to the concrete pipe noted to be discharging to the waterway. As part of the investigation, a statutory sample of the discharge was collected and analysed. The sample results indicated that the sample contained poisonous, noxious, or polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to aquatic life in a receiving waterway. It is an offence under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 (as amended by the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006) under Article 7(1)(a) to make a polluting discharge to a waterway.
