Trial for man accused of €800K theft
PRESSURE ON GOVERNMENT TO STOP SEWAGE LEAKS
A MAN has been sent forward for trial accused of defrauding a biotechnology company out of more than €800,000.
Adrianus Johannes Kees (54) was yesterday served with a book of evidence with two charges for theft and deception.
Mr Kees, of Galway Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath, is accused that on dates in 2011 and 2012, he stole €840,000 from the Ovagen Group Limited, in Ballina, Co Mayo.
Judge Paula Murphy granted prosecutors a trial in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the case will be mentioned on November 11.
Mr Kees was remanded on continuing bail, which was set earlier at €50,000.
THE Government “needs to step up” and stop raw sewage spewing from 32 towns and villages without wastewater plants, a network of environmental charities claims.
Sinead O’Brien from the Sustainable Water Network said while Irish Water has been criticised for the pace at which it is dealing with the problem, “responsibility lies at the door of the Department for Housing”.
Her comments follow the latest Environmental Protection Agency report on Urban Wastewater Treatment.
It found over half the country’s sewage is still not being treated to EU standards with discharges still impacting rivers, lakes and coastal waters in 38 areas — and that Irish Water has no clear action plan or timeframe to improve treatment at 27 of the sites.
Ms O’Brien told us: “We are calling for urgent action at this stage.
She believes “three Olympic swimming pools of raw sewage” enter our waterways every day, posing a risk to people and wildlife.
“The basic requirement to not discharge raw human waste into our water comes from an EU law which is more than 30 years old. The requirement to stop this is 16 years old.
Problem
“We are 16 years on and if you look over the last couple of years, it’s just coming down one or two at a time [in relation to problem areas where work has been carried out].
“It’s far, far too slow,” she added. “Untreated sewage has viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens so it’s a direct threat to public health.”
Sinead says the Department of Housing’s impending plan for water “is their opportunity to step up”.
Environment watchdog EPA found 32 towns and villages were discharging raw sewage every day in mid-2022 while 12 large towns and cities did not treat sewage to the required standard.
EPA Programme Manager Noel Byrne added: “This highlights the need for improved vigilance and oversight by Irish Water.”
Irish Water’s Brian Sheehan added: “We have prioritised key programmes such as the elimination of raw sewage and upgrading existing infrastructure.”