Pub owner in court over water pollution charge

Holy Grail pub and restaurant owner Gerard O’Connor attended the District Court in Gorey to deal with a Water Pollution Act prosecution.

The case arose from difficulties with a sewage treatment plant installed to service the pub in Ballindaggin and six houses.

County council scientist Claire Kelly told Judge John Cheatle how she arrived on February 13 in 2014 to discover tanks overflowing with untreated effluent.

O’Connor had a licence which permitted him to discharge treated effluent into a nearby water course.

The problem, which arose after a storm knocked out power to the electric pumps, continued to dog the plant for years afterwards though it was now remedied.

Ms Kelly acknowledged that the accused had worked with the local authority to find a solution during that time, hiring consultants in an effort to cure a design fault.

Solicitor Peter Crean stated that his client had spent at least €14,000 to bring everything up to the standard demanded.

The judge acknowledged O’Connor’s cooperation and the expense to which he had been put.

The pub proprietor was told that he would be allowed the benefit of the Probation Act, avoiding a conviction once the county council’s costs and expenses are paid by April 18.