Uisce Éireann pleads guilty to water pollution charges connected to North Clare 'fish kill'

Gordon Deegan

Uisce Éireann has pleaded guilty to two water pollution charges in connection with a ‘fish kill’ that occurred downstream of an Uisce Éireann water treatment plant in North Clare last May.

In the case before Ennis District Court, solicitor for the prosecuting authority in the case, Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), Kevin Sherry told the court Uisce Éireann is pleading guilty to permitting deleterious matter to go into a waterway at Calluragh East, Ennistymon, contrary to Section 171 of the Fisheries Act.

The offences were dated May 2nd and 18th, 2023. The fish kill, in which up to 2,000 fish died, occurred on the Ballymacraven River, downstream of Uisce Éireann’s Ballymacraven water treatment plant.

Read here IFI's statement regarding fish kill in Co Clare: https://t.co/oyMnNKiUtO pic.twitter.com/Z3EYwVoIx4

— Inland Fisheries Ireland (@InlandFisherIE) May 8, 2023

The plant serves a population of almost 7,000 people in the wider North Clare area, including Ennistymon, Lahinch, Kilfenora, Doolin, Fanore and Ballyvaughan.

Mr Sherry said on the basis of the guilty pleas, other counts against Uisce Éireann can be withdrawn.

Mr Sherry added there is also agreement concerning the reasonable discharge of the IFI's prosecution costs.

Counsel for Uisce Éireann, Rebecca Treacy BL, said the matter could be adjourned to next month for facts in the case to be heard.

The guilty pleas follow an IFI investigation into the fish kill in early May. Among the species of fish killed were eel, salmon, trout, rudd and flounder of all ages.

IFI first became aware of an ecological issue when a member of the public informed staff of a rusty red colour on the river.

Asked to comment on the guilty pleas, an Uisce Éireann spokesperson said: "Uisce Éireann is committed to safeguarding public health and protecting the environment in all our activities.

"Following an incident in May 2023, which regretfully resulted in a fish kill in the Ballymacraven River, downstream of the Ballymacraven Water Treatment Plant, we have put in a number of measures to seek to ensure such an incident does not recur, and we expect to outline those to the court in due course."

The spokesperson added: "In particular, Uisce Éireann wishes to assure the local community that a €7.5 million upgrade to the Ballymacraven Water Treatment Plant is progressing well and is due to be completed in 2024."

In July, Uisce Éireann said it had undertaken changes to the management of Ennistymon Water Treatment Plant as a precautionary measure.