A Co Derry farmer was fined £400 at Magherafelt Magistrates Court today for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.
The court heard Water Quality Inspectors, acting on behalf of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, inspected a waterway at Luney Bridge, Luney Lane, Magherafelt on 5 November last year and observed brown fungus attached to aquatic vegetation in the waterway.
The source of the polluting discharge was traced to farm premises owned by Geoffrey Stewart, Luney Road, Magherafelt
The length of waterway affected by the discharge was approximately 1300 metres
A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharges contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.
Stewart was also ordered to pay £31 court costs and a £15 Offenders Levy,
The prosecution was brought under Article 7 (1) (a) of the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.
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