Coagh farmer fined £2,000 for pollution

Mr Trevor Irwin, Ballymaguire Road, Coagh was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway which is part of the Ballinderry River system.

The court heard that on 8 July 2014, Water Quality Inspectors, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected the Aghaveagh Stream at Drumard Road and observed the waterway to be grey/brown in colour and smelling strongly of an agricultural nature.

The Inspectors discovered a dark coloured liquid discharging to the waterway.

The pollution was caused when tanks on the farm overflowed, allowing effluent to enter the storm drainage system before making its way to the waterway.

More than 600 metres was affected by this polluting discharge. The source of the pollution was traced to farm premises owned by Mr Trevor Irwin.A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharges contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Anyone wishing to report a pollution incident can call the 24 hour Water Pollution Hotline on 0800 80 70 60.