Dromore farmer fined £300 for pollution offence

A Co Tyrone farmer was fined £300 plus £25 court costs at Omagh Magistrates Court today.
~ Friday, 13 January 2012

Mr Keith Russell, of Camderry Road, Dromore, Co Tyrone, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

On 28 October 2010, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency observed farm effluent entering an unnamed tributary of the Owenreagh River. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Russell. The Inspector estimated that more than 2km of waterway below the farm was extensively covered in fungal growth and blood worms were observed in the waterway. The storm water had been contaminated with silage effluent from the silo.

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.

Notes to editors:

1. Mr Russell was charged under Article 7 (1) (a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 with the offence of making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
2. For media enquiries please contact DOE Press Office 028 90256058 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.