Lurgan farmer fined for polluting discharge to a waterway

Co Armagh farmer was fined £2,000 plus £28 court costs at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court today.

Reginald Gardiner, of Summerhill, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

On 20 February 2008, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (formally the Environment and Heritage Service) observed a grossly polluted waterway caused by silage effluent. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Gardiner.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious and polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving watercourse.

Notes to Editors:

1. Mr Gardiner 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 9054 0014 or out of office hours, contact the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.