Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) today (Monday, October 14) said it had "secured a conviction" against Tipperary Co-op in relation to the "pollution" of a river in Co. Tipperary.

According to IFI, Tipperary Co-op was found, at Nenagh District Court on September 25, 2024, to have committed "water pollution offences" at the River Ara in Tipperary town.

Evidence was given by IFI fisheries environmental officer, Oliver McGrath, to the court, the pollution incident occurred over the May bank holiday weekend in 2024.

The co-op must pay a fine and costs for the incident totaling €7,178.

Lynda Connor, south-eastern director at IFI, said: “This successful prosecution is part of Inland Fisheries Ireland’s very determined efforts to protect the state’s rivers, streams, and lakes.

"They safeguard and protect the river for residents of the town, the flora and fauna of the river itself – as well as the wider River Suir catchment.”

IFI has outlined that Tipperary Co-op was found to "have permitted or caused a harmful discharge" to fall into the River Ara, and was ordered to pay a fine of €4,000.The co-op must also pay costs of €3,178 to Inland Fisheries Ireland.

According to IFI its principal function "is to protect, manage and conserve Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources".

It has statutory responsibility for the protection, development, and management of Ireland’s 74,000 km of rivers and streams together with 128,000 lake hectares. It also has a coastline patrol jurisdiction of 12 nautical miles.

Last year IFI initiated 24 prosecutions for environmental offences and 21 prosecutions were concluded for environmental offences in 2023.

Inland Fisheries Ireland today urged the public to report instances of water pollution, fish kills, habitat destruction, or illegal fishing to its confidential 24/7 number, 0818 34 74 24.