Kesh farmer fined for pollution offence

A Co Fermanagh farmer was fined £2,500 plus £22 court costs at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Mr Albert Frazer, of Doora, Kesh, Co. Fermanagh, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway. He also agreed to pay for the restocking of the waterway in the spring of 2010.

On 29 July 2008, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (formerly the Environment and Heritage Service) inspected a waterway at Old Castle Archdale, Lisnarick and found a substantial coverage of sewage fungus throughout the river and on the river bed.

A number of dead and dying fish were found in the waterway. A full inspection of the waterway revealed some 80 to 90 dead and dying trout. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Frazer.

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

Notes to Editors:

1. Mr Frazer 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.