Detergent company convicted following major River Tolka fish kill
Press Release Tuesday, 4th August 2015
Detergent company convicted following major River Tolka fish kill
At the sitting of the District Court held at the Four Courts on Monday, 27th July 2015, Judge O’Neill convicted detergent company Alma Hygiene Ltd. of the discharge of deleterious matter to the River Tolka on 22nd and 23rd July 2014. In addition to the fine of €250, the company was directed to pay legal costs and expenses to Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and Dublin City Council amounting to a total of €34,603.45 including €7,740 towards appropriate mitigation measures.
Alma Hygiene Ltd. of 280 Bannow Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 was prosecuted by IFI following investigations into a fish kill on the River Tolka, which took place as a result of the discharge of concentrated detergent from their facility in July 2014.
Judge O’Neill heard evidence from Mr Noel McGloin, Senior Fisheries Environmental Officer with IFI, that, following receipt of a fish kill report from members of the public on Wednesday, 22nd July 2014, IFI carried out detailed investigations on the River Tolka over a number of days. It was established that in excess of 5,000 fish including brown trout and sea trout had been killed over a distance of 4.5 kilometres from a storm water outfall beside Finglas Road Bridge to the tidal zone of the River Tolka near East Wall.
Giving details of sampling and analysis undertaken, Mr McGloin confirmed the discharge from the storm water pipeline to the River Tolka was characterised by seriously elevated levels of surfactants. He said that on the morning of July 23rd 2014, he visited the premises of Alma Hygiene Ltd. in Cabra along with staff from Dublin City Council. Mr McGloin noted where there had been a spillage of detergent on the premises that had subsequently discharged into a storm water sewer that flows to the River Tolka at Finglas Road Bridge. On instruction, staff from Alma Hygiene Ltd. immediately completed the clean-up of the discharge and prevented all remaining effluent residues from entering the watercourse. Alma Hygiene Ltd. staff were found to be fully cooperative at all times during the investigation.
Legal representatives for Alma Hygiene Ltd., who told Judge O’Neill their client pleaded guilty in the matter, said that the discharge occurred as a result of human error and that steps had been taken to prevent any further discharge as soon as it had come to their attention.
Legal representatives also informed Judge O’Neill that Alma Hygiene Ltd. had made contact with Dublin City Council on the morning of the July 23rd 2014 as a result of an appeal for information made in the national media by Mr Brian Beckett, Director, IFI, Dublin the previous day. Extensive evidence was given by both IFI and Dublin City Council staff regarding the extent of investigations undertaken as a result of this significant pollution incident.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has a confidential hotline number to enable members of the general public to report incidents - 1890 34 74 24 or 1890 FISH 24. This phone line is designed to encourage the reporting of incidents of illegal fishing, water pollution and invasive species.
For more information, visit www.fisheriesireland.ie.
ENDS
Further Information: 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
Note for Editors:
Inland Fisheries Irelandis 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 will promote, support, facilitate and advise the Minister on, the conservation, protection, management, development and improvement of inland fisheries, including sea angling and develop and advise the Minister on policy and national strategies relating to inland fisheries and sea angling.
