Councillor calls for large fine for river polluters

A large fine should be imposed on those responsible for a major spillage that killed fish stocks in the Ballymartin and Six Mile Water rivers, an Antrim councillor has said.


It has been suggested that fish stocks in the area, which is a popular angling spot, may never recover from the pollution, and that other local wildlife may suffer.

Now local councillor Danny Kinahan has called for harsh recriminations to ensure that it does not happen again.

“The responsibility falls squarely on all the company directors, as well as the individual who may have done it without considering the damage he will cause,” he said.

“Over the years, these rivers have had hundreds of thousands spent on restocking them with fish and reinvigorating all the other wildlife that are in and around our rivers.

“Now they have to start again, as all the invertebrates and the fish are dead, and we will very likely see the same happening to the birds and animals who rely on the river.”

He pointed out that the pollution was “a criminal action”.

Ben Meggeson

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