Construction company convicted following major River Dodder fish kill

Press release, 15/10/13

At the sitting of the District Court held at the Four Courts on Monday 14th October 2013, Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. of Stradbally East, Kilcolgan, County Galway was prosecuted by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) following investigations into a fish kill on the River Dodder which took place as a result of the discharge of chlorinated water during commissioning of a new water supply pipeline in South County Dublin.

Mr. Brian Beckett Fisheries Environmental Officer with IFI told Judge Hamill that following receipt of a fish kill report from South Dublin County Council on Friday 1st March 2013, Inland Fisheries Ireland carried out detailed investigations on the River Dodder over a number of days, and had established that in excess of 3000 fish including Brown Trout and Lamprey had been killed over a distance of 2.5 kilometres from below an outfall from Boherboy Water Supply Pipeline to a point upstream of Firhouse Weir. Giving details of sampling and analysis undertaken, Mr. Beckett confirmed the discharge from the water supply pipeline to the Dodder was characterised by seriously elevated levels of Chlorine. He said that on the afternoon of 1st March 2013, he instructed staff from Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. to immediately terminate the discharge, and prevent all remaining effluent residues from entering the watercourse. Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. staff were found to be fully cooperative at all times during the investigation.

Legal representatives for Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. who had earlier told Judge Hamill there was a plea in the matter said that the discharge occurred as a result of human error and as soon as this had come to their attention, had taken steps to prevent any further discharge. It was also submitted that Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. had committed to provision of a sum of money to cover restocking or other appropriate costs to mitigate against damage caused as a result of the discharge. Judge Hamill convicted Ward and Burke Construction Ltd. and imposed a fine of €2000.00 and awarded legal costs and expenses to Inland Fisheries Ireland.

...ENDS...

Media Enquiries

Suzanne Campion,
Head of Business Development,
Inland Fisheries Ireland,
Anglesea Street, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
Tel: 052 6180055 Fax: 052 6123971
Email: suzanne.campion@fisheriesireland.ie Website: www.fisheriesireland.ie

Notes for the editor

Inland Fisheries Ireland is a statutory body operating under the aegis of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and was established under the Fisheries Act on 1st July 2010. Its principal function is the protection and conservation of the inland fisheries resource. IFI promotes, supports, facilitates and advises the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling. It also develops and advises the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling. www.fisheriesireland.ie