EPA Prosecutes a Pig Farmer

On the 21st April 2006 at Cavan District Court, Co Cavan, The Environmental Protection Agency took a prosecution against a Pig Farmer (Licensee) of  Ballyjamesduff, Co. Cavan in relation to offences under Sections 8 & 84(2) of the Environmental Protection Agency Acts, 1992 and 2003 for breaches of his IPC Licence (Reg. No. 679).

The Licensee pleaded guilty to two charges. These related to failure to notify the EPA as soon as practicable of an unauthorised emission and an incident with potential for environmental contamination of surface water, and to make a record of such incident.  He was also found guilty of failing to maintain the level alarm on the reception tank. Breach of these conditions had the potential to significantly impair the local environment and cause contamination of surface water, and Lough Nadreegeel.

On hearing details of the offences from an EPA inspector and a Senior Engineer from Cavan County Council, Judge McBride imposed fines totalling €1,000 and the EPA’s costs of €9,328 were also awarded.

The Licensee was granted an IPC licence (Reg. No. 679) on 16h April 2004 for the rearing of pigs.

This prosecution was taken with the co-operation of Cavan County Council following a site visit by an inspector of the Environmental Protection Agency on 13th June 2005, after notification of a slurry spill on 10th June 2005.