Uisce \u00c9ireann has been convicted and fined \u20ac1,000 at Donegal District Court following a \u2018significant\u2019 discharge to a south Donegal stream.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Uisce \u00c9ireann were fined \u20ac1,000 plus costs of \u20ac2,594.41 at Donegal District Court, following a \u201csignificant\u201d discharge in a south Donegal stream.<\/p>\n
Uisce \u00c9ireann were fined \u20ac1,000 plus costs of \u20ac2,594.41 at Donegal District Court, following a \u201csignificant\u201d discharge in a south Donegal stream. <\/p>\n
Judge \u00c9ite\u00e1in Cunningham gave Uisce \u00c9ireann four months to pay the fine and costs at Ballyshannon courthouse.<\/p>\n
The charge that Uisce \u00c9ireann faced was based on an incident at a stream in Killaghtee, Dunkineely, on March 19, that they did a) throw deleterious matter or b) emptied deleterious matter or c) permit deleterious matter to fall or d) cause deleterious to fall, contrary to the form of Section 171(1) of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 as amended.<\/p>\n
In giving evidence, the Fisheries Environmental Officer of Inland Fisheries, Eoghan Cross, said: \u201cIt was clear that the stream was heavily polluted. It was a historical issue and had been ongoing for the past number of weeks or months.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was engaged with the cooperation with Uisce \u00c9ireann, although there are still concerns with the ongoing management of this emergency overflow. Overflows require heavy monitoring and are prone to human error. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy concern is that perhaps, in the past, there was not regular monitoring.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stress that there is cooperation from Uisce \u00c9ireann and continues to be.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uisce \u00c9ireann\u2019s solicitor, Alan Ledwith, then cross-examined Cross. He said: \u201cThey came immediately to address the issue immediately. I understand regular checking has occurred subsequently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cross replied: \u201cSubsequent surveys of the area show that the stream is recovering.\u201d <\/p>\n
Ledwith continued: \u201cI think the plant is desludged after two months. You are aware of that?<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was an investigation by Uisce \u00c9ireann, and there was a third party identified with this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe news of another investigation is welcome,\u201d responded Cross.<\/p>\n
Ledwith then said: \u201cUisce \u00c9ireann\u2019s engagement with the customer will give a lot of comfort. There is a caretaker who attends frequently. <\/p>\n
\u201cUisce \u00c9ireann is going through a structural change. In future, there is going to be more focus on wastewater treatment. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no subsequent or previous incident. It is fair to say that there was cooperation, and they engaged fully.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn current inspection of the stream, it is entirely clean.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cross answered: \u201cYes, it is recovering well. It is hard to know what impact these incidents had on the stream, but it is recovering well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The court then heard that the costs of the case totalled to \u20ac2,594.41.<\/p>\n
Speaking to Judge Cunningham, Ledwith said: \u201cNo fish were killed. There were no previous convictions. To be fair to Uisce \u00c9ireann, they didn\u2019t seek to test any evidence.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am satisfied that from Mr Cross\u2019s evidence, that the stream is clean. There is a transitional element of Uisce \u00c9ireann that will give the court comfort. I ask the court to be as lenient as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Judge Cunningham commented: \u201cI do accept that they acted once they became aware of the matter, noting that they had jetting in place the following morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a serious charge before the court, and the discharge is significant. I would hope that this is a lesson for Uisce \u00c9ireann in terms of monitoring.\u201d<\/p>\n
Uisce \u00c9ireann convicted and fined after Donegal stream pollution was last modified: February 12th, 2026 by Staff Writer<\/p>\n
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