IFI statement re Uisce Éireann and Glanua Ireland convictions in Cork

Inland Fisheries Ireland(IFI) has welcomed convictions against Uisce Éireann and Glanua Ireland Ltd for harmful discharges into the Sullane River.

Each company is to pay a fine of €4,000, and each must also pay €2,354 in costs and expenses following separate pollution incidents at Macroom wastewater treatment plant, Co. Cork.

Uisce Éireann was found to have allowed a deleterious discharge into the Sullane River on June 11th, 2024 – just two days after a discharge of polyaluminium chloride from the company’s Kanturk water treatment plant entered the River Allow in Co. Cork, causing a major fish kill.

Separately, Glanua Ireland was found to have permitted or caused a harmful discharge to enter the Sullane River at Macroom wastewater treatment plant on July 5th, 2024.

Commenting Sean Long Director of IFI’s south-western region said: "Each incident is one too many for our vulnerable river habitats.

"The biggest impact on water quality is nutrient pollution from agricultural activities and wastewater. 

"The EPA’s Water Quality in 2023 report, which coincidentally was published on the same day of the June 11th incident, states that we need to see an acceleration in the pace that Uisce Éireann is delivering improvements in wastewater infrastructure."

The cases were heard on February 5th, 2025, at Macroom District Court.

IFI urge the public to report instances of water pollution, fish kills, habitat destruction, or illegal fishing to its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.