<\/p>\n
A pipe located in the river beside the waste water treatment plant.<\/p>\n
\n Published:
\n Thu 25 Sep 2025, 4:42 PM\n <\/p>\n
Charges are set to be laid in connection with the latest fish kill on the Ballinagh River during the summer, The Anglo-Celt can reveal.<\/p>\n
Inland Fisheries Ireland has confirmed that a file is being prepared for prosecution relating to the incident on July 13.<\/p>\n
A 1,000-plus fish kill along a 1km stretch of the Ballinagh river during the summer left the community there outraged.<\/p>\n
Inland Fisheries Ireland environmental and fisheries staff identified deceased brown trout, stickleback, minnow and roach among the dead fish at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cA suspected source of pollution has been identified,” an IFI spokesperson told the Celt this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIFI is following a definite line of inquiry and is preparing a file, with view to bringing a prosecution,” they continued.An investigation was undertaken and water samples taken at the time of the fish kill.<\/p>\n
Asked what caused the fish kill, the spokesperson responded: \u201cIFI is not in a position to comment at present, so as not to prejudice the outcome of a potential case.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking following the fish kill, some anglers pointed the finger at the local waste water treatment plant as the potential source of pollution.<\/p>\n
Also asked for an update on the cause of the pollution, an Uisce \u00c9ireann spokesperson stated:”Wastewater treatment plant process improvements are carried out on an ongoing basis at the Ballinagh Wastewater Treatment Plant.<\/p>\n
“Most recently, there has been a review and modifications made to control flows through the plant, ongoing cleaning and maintenance of site infrastructure, and management of wasting on site.<\/p>\n
“Process monitoring is carried out on site and this demonstrates significant improvement in the quality of effluent being discharged since the reported July incident.”<\/p>\n
Uisce \u00c9ireann has been prosecuted in the past for polluting the river, though it remains to be seen if the July 2025 charges will be brought against the utility provider.<\/p>\n
In 2023, at Cavan District Court, Uisce \u00c9ireann was convicted of a third pollution incident regarding the Ballinagh plant since 2015. The last occasion related to a discharge in July 2022, which resulted in around 160 fish being killed. At the time tests showed high levels of ammonia – 32 times greater than expected in good salmon or trout waters.<\/p>\n
To prevent such pollution incidents taking place in the future, meanwhile, the IFI spokesperson stated: \u201cIFI has a very strong track record in finding pollution sources in rivers, and in initiating and concluding prosecutions against individuals and companies for fish kills.<\/p>\n
IFI environmental teams investigate fish kills on a regular basis across Ireland, and responded to a significant number in the summer of 2025.<\/p>\n
The spokeperson praised the body’s work and record in this regard, while acknowledging: \u201cThe agency cannot patrol all these waterways and bodies of water on a round-the-clock basis.”<\/p>\n
They said the IFI is “highly dependent” on the public to inform them of issues of concern they encounter.<\/p>\n
\u201cIFI operates an emergency, out-of-hours, response to any potential fish kill incident.<\/p>\n
The fisheries’ core mission is to protect freshwater fish and their habitats.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is crucial that any signs of fish in distress, pollution, illegal angling, habitat destruction are reported to IFI to its confidential 24\/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Published:
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