Dismay at recent fish kills

Citing the second fish kill in Ballinagh in three years, Cllr Winston Bennet (FG) said the “local community is very, very annoyed” and something needs to be done to prevent another pollution event.

Amongst the 1,000-plus fish killed in the incident IFI environmental and fisheries staff identified deceased brown trout, stickleback, minnow and roach along a 1km stretch of the river. The incident occurred on July 13. Water samples were taken from the scene, and IFI is following "a definite line of enquiry" into the suspected source of the pollution.

Speaking at the August Ballyjamesduff Municipal District meeting, he asked why “Irish Water has 10 to 11 years to solve an issue, when a local farmer has only six weeks to respond to a pollution problem”. Cllr Bennett urged: “Something needs to be done in the near future so that this doesn’t happen again.”

Sinn Féin's Noel Connell wanted to know “can we find out more, where is the pollution coming from? We have received no definitive answer.”

Cllr Trevor Smith (FG) revealed how he had been approached by the local fishing groups who don't believe these were a “natural occurrence”.

His party colleague T.P. O’Reilly asked: “What body is investigating this?” and urged Irish Water to be more proactive.

Area Manager, John McGahern, said he had received confirmation from both Inland Fisheries Ireland and Irish Water that investigations are underway.