*Denis Vaughan. Photograph: John Mangan
SANCTIONS against Uisce Éireann for a major fishkill in North Clare have been welcomed by local groups.
Ennistymon based community group, Restore Ballymacraven River Association welcomed the decision in Ennis District Court last week to fine Uisce Éireann €10,000 for the discharge of sludge for the water treatment plant into the Ballymacraven River at Calluragh East, Ennistymon killing over 2,000 fish, including Atlantic salmon and eels of multiple age profiles on a 2.6km stretch of the Ballymacraven River.
A spokesperson for the Restore Ballymacraven River Association (RBRA) welcomed the actions of Inland Fisheries Ireland to secure the prosecution of Uisce Éireann before Judge Alec Gabbett. The spokesperson noted the efforts of Inland Fisheries Ireland staff, in gathering the evidence required to make those responsible for the fish kill accountable.
The RBRA was established specifically in response to the anger and frustration in the local community following this major fishkill in May 2023. The RBRA said it looks forward to working in partnership with Uisce Éireann, Inland Fisheries Ireland and all other interested parties in beginning restoration work on the river. It notes the work carried out by Uisce Éireann since the fishkill to avoid a repeat occurrence.
Since the fishkill, the RBRA has organised multiple community meetings, major river clean-up days, citizen science outings and community outreach events. Following the court case the RBRA will now hold a community meeting on the Friday (March 1st) in the Falls Hotel at 8 PM. At this meeting the planned work programme of the Restore Ballymacraven River Association for 2024, will be discussed and funding for this work will be outlined. One of the initial planned events will be a tree planting day along the banks of the river on the 18th of March the details of which will be outlined at the public meeting.
Meanwhile, the North Clare branch of the Labour Party have said they remain very concerned with the operations of Uisce Éireann. “We were upset, but not surprised, by the evidence given by Uisce Éireann in the recent court case that followed last year’s disastrous river pollution at Ennistymon. At that hearing Uisce Éireann pleaded guilty to two water pollution charges that caused the death of up to 2,000 fish in North Clare. That arose from poisonous effluent being allowed to enter the local river at Calluragh East, Ennistymon,” said Denis Vaughan.
He added, “Evidence given in that recent court case showed that the killing of salmon extended over their entire age span. It was admitted that salmon may never return to breed in the Ballymacraven River again. Clearly this calls for more than a treatment works upgrade. Any such work must be part of a wider renewal and a management system that will restore the lost diversity of fish and will also restore the damaged habitat. The people of North Clare deserve a lot better from Uisce Éireann and from Clare County Council. We will campaign to secure the improvements that are so clearly needed”.
