Dungannon company fined £500 for water pollution offences

A Dungannon company has been fined £500 plus £61 court costs for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

Augher Co-Op Agricultural Dairy Society Ltd of Main Street, Augher, Co Tyrone was fined at Dungannon Magistrates' Court today.

On 16 April 2007, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (formally the Environment and Heritage Service) observed a foul smelling discharge entering the waterway from a broken pipe.

On 19 April 2007, the Inspector returned to the same area and observed that a foul smelling discoloured discharge was flowing from the pipe at the same point as on 16 April 2007.

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

Notes to Editors

1. The defendant 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.