A CLONAKILTY group campaigning for clean water has welcomed a court decision to convict and fine Uisce Éireann €4,000 for breaches of waste water discharges at Shannonvale village.

The case, prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was heard at Dublin Metropolitan District Court on Monday.

Uisce Éireann pleaded guilty to two charges of being in breach of regulations.

It conceded that on September 20th 2024 UE failed to operate the waste water works in accordance with best practice to ensure that discharge did not cause environmental pollution.

It also pleaded guilty to failing to notify the EPA as soon as practicable after the unauthorised discharge from the holding tank on the same date.

Judge Anthony Halpin imposed fines totalling €4,000 while agency costs were also agreed.

Shannonvale residents have been waiting 28 years to use their local park which has been reportedly out of bounds due to raw sewage and fed-up locals have dubbed it ‘Uisce Éireann Park.’

An option to establish a pumping station is now being progressed.

Jack Hanly of Clean Water Clonakilty told The Southern Star they are delighted Uisce Éireann has been held to account by the EPA describing it as a ‘big win for the people of Shannonvale and the wider Clonakilty area’.

‘Our village park was once the pride of Shannonvale but for over 28 years… it is now an unusable sewage swamp that is fenced off from the public,’ he said.

He added that they ‘wait anxiously for news of the next steps from Uisce Éireann on when they will fix their mess, the cost of which has been felt for decades by their community.’

He added: ‘The case also highlights the importance of protecting water quality close to the Jones Bridge Water Treatment Plant, which supplies safe drinking water to thousands of residents across West Cork.’

EPA officials last visited Shannonvale waste water treatment Plant on July 23rd where ‘repeat ponding of effluent’ was observed in the village park.

Cork South West TD and Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins said there has been a ‘chronic and systematic lack of responsiveness that was generating active threats to public health.’

‘What we need to ensure now is that we use the momentum generated by these fines to have Shannonvale made the subject of significant capital investment funding and infrastructural development,’ he said. ‘We know where the problems lies and that is with the criminal negligence of Irish Water.’

Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan said this must be the ‘catalyst’ for real action to alleviate almost 30 years of poor water quality.

‘The option to establish a pumping station and transfer flows across the river towards the Clonakilty waste water network is now being progressed,’ he said.

A spokesperson for Uisce Éireann said it acknowledges the ‘seriousness of the incidents’ in September 2024 and it is committed to protecting the environment.

‘We regret any concern caused locally,’ they stated. ‘Uisce Éireann is progressing a Strategic Assessment to identify the best long-term solution for Shannonvale. This involves a full assessment of all feasible options, having regard to available resources, funding and prioritisation.’