There have been a number of successful prosecutions this month for breaches of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1999/662.
In the first case, Dunbia (Northern Ireland) Ltd of Dungannon, County Tyronne was fined a total of £1,705 on 12 May 2008 for two pollution offences. On 17 January 2007, an Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) official inspected an unnamed tributary of the Oona River and observed a foul smelling discharge with a strong red colour. Samples taken confirmed the discharge contained poisonous noxious and polluting matter which would have been potentially harmful to fish life.
Capital Reinforcing (Ireland) Ltd of Ballygawley, County Tyronne was fined a total of £1,318. On 23 April 2007, an EHS official found oil present in the Ballygawley Water - a tributary of the Blackwater River. A sample taken confirmed the water was contaminated with diesel oil which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
Finally, A T Sand & Gravel Ltd of Dungannon, County Tyronne was fined a total of £1,122. On 28 April 2007, an EHS official inspected the the Ballinderry River and found it to be heavily contaminated with suspended solids giving the river an orange/brown colour. A sample confirmed that the discharge was polluting and would have been potentially harmful to fish life.
