13 October 2006
TYRONE FARMER FINED £4,600 FOR POLLUTION OFFENCES
Mr Ernest Buchanan of Drumclamph Road, Castlederg was fined at Strabane Magistrates Court yesterday for pollution incidents last year.
The first pollution incident was detected on 7 June 2005, when an officer from the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) traced pollution in a stream back to a farm belonging to Mr Buchanan at Cavandarragh Road, Castlederg. Mr Buchanan was advised him to take steps to stop the pollution.
A further visit to the farm on 28 June found that while the initial pollution had been stopped, effluent was now escaping from a cattle-house to the stream.
On a third visit to the farm on 5 July, pollution was found to be escaping from a slurry lagoon across the road and to a nearby waterway.
Analysis of samples taken during the investigation of these three separate incidents confirmed that they were causing very serious pollution.
The defendant pleaded guilty and was fined a total of £4,250, plus analysis costs totaling £371.93, plus court costs.
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Mr Buchanan was fined £500 for the 7 June offence, £1250 for the 25 June offence and £2500 for the 5 July offence.
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