EPA Prosecutes Lagan Pigs Limited

On the 14th of January 2008 at Ballyconnell District Court, Lagan Pigs Limited pleaded guilty to five charges brought by the Environmental Protection Agency in relation to offences under Section 8 and Section 86(6) of the Environmental Protection Agency Acts 1992 and 2003 for breaches of its IPC Licence (Reg. No. P0617-01).

The Company admitted breaching conditions of its licence by:

1.  Carrying out land spreading activities other than in accordance with a Nutrient Management Plan agreed in advance with the EPA;
2.  Failing to maintain on site a Slurry/Manure Register;
3.  Failing to retain on site the results of monitoring of available storage capacity for slurry/manure;
4.  Failing to retain on site a record of the full stock register;
5.  Failing to provide safe and permanent access to surface water discharge points on site.

On hearing details of the offences, Judge McLoughlin found the case proven but applied the Probation Act and ordered that a donation of €500 be made payable to the St. Vincent De Paul.  EPA costs of €10,000 were also awarded.

Lagan Pigs Limited was granted an IPC licence (Reg. No. P0617-01) on the 27th day of February 2003 for the rearing of pigs.  The facility is located at Lagan, Belturbet, County Cavan.

This prosecution was taken following a site inspection of the facility by the Office of Environmental Enforcement on 2nd July 2007.