Co Tyrone company fined for polluting discharge to a waterway

A Co Tyrone Company was fined a total of £22,500 plus £80 court costs at Omagh Magistrates’ Court today.

McAnenly Quarries Ltd, of Spring Road, Drumnakilly, Carrickmore, Co Tyrone was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

Reports of pollution were made on 23 October, 7 November and 18 December 2007, by a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA, formerly the Environment and Heritage Service). The Inspector observed that water leaving the site was contaminated, and the muddy water was discharging to the Drumnakilly Burn.

On 31 May 2008, following a further report of pollution, a Water Quality Inspector, acting on behalf of the NIEA observed the Drumnakilly Burn to be heavily contaminated with suspended solids.

On each occasion the source of the polluting discharge was traced to a quarry at Spring Road, Drumnakilly, Co Tyrone owned by McAnenly Quarries Ltd.

Samples taken at the time of the incidents confirmed that the discharges contained poisonous, noxious and polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving watercourse.

Notes to editors:

1. McAnenly Quarries Ltd 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, namely Drumnakilly Burn, a tributary of the Camowen River.
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