A Co Fermanagh farmer, appearing at court on 12 November 2008, has been fined £6,000 for unauthorised operation of his poultry farm.

Barrie Hicks, 61, of Teemore, Derrylin, Co Fermanagh, pleaded guilty at Enniskillen Magistrates' Court.

The Industrial Pollution and Radiochemical Inspectorate of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), formerly the Environment and Heritage Service, became aware of the farm in 2004 when a planned expansion was about to be built.

-- Advertisement --

Under the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations, operators of prescribed installations, including poultry farms with more than 40,000 birds are required to obtain a permit which lists the conditions and limitations under which the plant has to be operated.

The defendant applied for a permit, but the application showed that emissions of ammonia from the farm would damage a nearby Special Area of Conservation - Moninea Bog - and the application was refused.

Despite this, the defendant went ahead with building and operating the expanded farm.

Following the proper procedures would have highlighted the risk to the Special Area of Conservation in advance and avoided expenditure on the expansion.

The number of birds on the farm has subsequently been reduced below the 40,000 threshold that requires a permit.

(PR)