EPA Prosecutes Allergan Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Limited

On the 17th of April at Westport District Court, Allergan Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Limited pleaded guilty to two 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. P0126-01).

The Company admitted breaching conditions of its licence by:

1.  Failing to notify the Agency of an emission and breakdown of equipment, at the facility, as soon as practicable after the occurrence;

2.  Failing to carry out monitoring of emissions.

On hearing details of the offences, Judge Mary Devins imposed fines of  €2,500.

Allergan Pharmaceuticals (Ireland) Limited was granted an IPC licence (Reg. No. P0126-01) on the 27th March 1997 for the use of coating materials in processes with a capacity to use at least 10 tonnes per year of organic solvents.  The facility is located at Castlebar Road, Westport, Co Mayo.

This prosecution was taken following an incident that took place at the facility on 5th October 2007 and a site inspection by the Office of Environmental Enforcement on 12th October 2007.