A well-known dairy plant in Roscommon has stated it's commitment to maintaining high standards of environmental responsibility following fines of €350,000. Aurivo Dairy Ingredients were handed the fines at Sligo Circuit Criminal Court yesterday by Judge Kenneth Connolly.
The case related to environmental breaches at the Ballaghaderreen plant which led to a foul odour engulfing a town, forcing residents indoors in 2022. The charges included that the plant had seen discharges into the nearby River Lung and a subsequent failure to notify the Environmental Protection Agency and Inland Fisheries Ireland.
Judge Connolly stated that 'the company was happy to ignore the EPA guidelines' after their own testing revealed serious issues with the river as a result of high levels of Ammonia in the water. He stated that the human effect of the breaches were 'very significant and far reaching', with the extreme malodour said to have caused vomiting, nausea, stress and anxiety to local residents who were unable to leave windows open, or spend time outside.
ADI must pay €200,000 of the fine within six months and €150,000 in staggered payments of €15,000 over the next ten years. In a statement from the Company they say that they acknowledge the fine and remain committed to maintaining high standards.
The Ballaghaderreen plant have invested over 4 million euro in their waster water treatment according to management and say they 'sincerely regrets the incidents.' Former Councillor and Ballaghaderreen resident Michael Mulligan had repeatedly highlighted the issue in the town.
He's been reacting to the sentencing:
