Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has secured a conviction against a wind farm firm for contamination of a Co Leitrim waterway.
Tullynamoyle Windfarm 5 Ltd was found to have caused silt to flow into a tributary of the River Bonet, and must now pay a fine and costs/expenses amounting to €4,900.
The incident happened at Lisnagowan within the Bonet River and Belhavel Lough catchment in Co Leitrim in January 2024, and the case was heard at Sligo District Court on 24 February this year.
Tullynamoyle Windfarm 5 Limited was instructed to pay a fine of €3,500, and €1,400 in costs/expenses to IFI.
Separately, IFI also prosecuted a plant hire company after a discharge of sediment entered the Bonet River system in a related incident.
The incident happened at Lisnagowan within the Bonet River and Belhavel Lough catchment in Co Leitrim in January 2024.
The case was heard at Sligo District Court on 24 February, with Norris Plant Hire Limited given the benefit of the Probation Act and ordered to give a contribution of €1,000 to a charity, and also pay costs/expenses of €1,000 to IFI.
Mary Walsh, IFI Western region director (Ballina) said: “The Bonet river is a sensitive habitat and is under environmental pressure.
“The fishery is only open on a catch-and-release basis due to declining salmon stocks there.
“This was a significant pollution incident which potentially impacted the water quality, and posed a serious threat to our natural environment and fish populations.”
