Oil spill costs thousands in wasted food

Thousands of euro worth of food product at a west Limerick company had to be destroyed because of the pollution of the River Deel.

Pfizer, which makes adult and baby food products at its Askeaton plant, confirmed last night they had to close down production and destroy products when they were alerted that the River Deel had been polluted in an oil spill. The company said last night that production has been restored, having secured an alternative water supply.

Up to 7,000 people were still without water last night following the oil spill, which caused serious pollution along a 20km stretch of the river Deel and its tributaries.