Progress made in preventing salmon from being trapped around Cork hydro-electric plant

Progress has been made in works to prevent salmon becoming trapped in the waters around a hydro-electric plant on the River Lee, and on Wednesday the owner was given the benefit of a dismissal of one charge under the Probation Act.

Judge Joanne Carroll made this decision on one of the charges brought by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) against Dan Twomey, who has a hydro facility on the River Lee, south of the old Cork waterworks and directly across the river from the Kingsley Hotel.

However, further works are necessary.

Judge Carroll said that if additional work was done to the satisfaction of Inland Fisheries by July 16, the second charge would also be dismissed under the Probation Act.

If it is not done, the judge warned, a fine of up to €4,500 could be imposed.

The judge recalled that after hearing the case last December, she found the facts proven and adjourned the case until yesterday for penalty, so that remedial works could be done.

Grating that was three inches wide is now no more than two inches wide, it was confirmed by Charles O’Connor, defence solicitor. Senior IFI environmental officer Michael McPartland agreed this was done.

Padlocks

The second issue was in relation to the padlocking of the gates. Solicitor for IFI, Vincent Coakley, said that not all the gates had padlocks.

Mr O’Connor said the defendant would have all the locks in place in time for a joint inspection, before the adjourned date in July.

Mr McPartland said in December 2024 that, at that time, the grates needed to have bars with not more than two inches between them, but that they were approximately three inches wide at this plant.

Secondly, he said that there was a second breach, in that some of the gratings were found open when inspected. These are required to be kept in good repair and in a manner preventing their opening or removal.

Mr McPartland explained, in relation to the salmon, “If they get trapped in there, they have no reverse gear to get out, so the lifecycle will not be completed.”

In relation to flood waters getting over the height of the grating, Mr Twomey said: “There is floods in the river and then there is the Inniscarra dam, and I have no control of either. I’m not God.”