A farmer has been convicted and fined for polluting the River Robe by spreading slurry
A CLAREMORRIS farmer has been fined by the courts after it was found he polluted a section of the River Robe.
Declan Joyce of Harefield, Claremorris, was ordered to pay the money after Claremorris District Court found that slurry spread on his land at Cartron, Claremorris, had polluted a section of the river.
David Harrington of Inland Fisheries Ireland told the court that on May 26, 2015, he found a section of the river to have 26 times higher levels of ammonia and 30 times higher phosphorus levels near where slurry had leeched into a drain and into the river from Joyce’s land. Mr Joyce admitted he had been spreading slurry.
Mr Harrington said tests showed a plume in the river and that ammonia burns the gills of fish, while increased phosphorus levels cause increased algae which decreases oxygen in the water. Asked by Judge Mary Devins if the fish affected would be dangerous to eat, Mr Harrington said other than probably having an odour, he was unsure of the health risks of eating them.
He added that if fish were exposed to pollution over time they would eventually die and that once this pollution occurs it cannot be cleaned from the river.
Defending solicitor, Conor O’Dwyer, said there was very heavy rainfall at the time of the detection and his client has removed a slatted house to protect animals.
Judge Devins convicted Mr Joyce, fining him €500 and directing him to pay €184.50 in expenses for laboratory testing plus €350 in costs.
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