Swatragh farmer given absolute discharge for pollution of waterway

Mr Thomas Scott, of Lismoyle Road, Swatragh, was convicted of making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

On 5 September 2011, water quality inspectors, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency inspected an unnamed tributary of the Grove River and observed grey fungus on the bed of the waterway.

The inspectors discovered a black plastic pipe which was discharging to the waterway. The discharge was discoloured and contained foam and fungus.

The waterway was affected for approximately one kilometre. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Scott.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway