Irish Water in court over Louth sewage

A prosecution against Irish Water for failing to ensure sewage waste from a Co Louth water treatment plant did not cause environmental pollution has been adjourned.

The company is being prosecuted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The case was listed before Judge John O’Neill at Dublin District Court yesterday.

Irish Water faces three charges of breaching the Waste Water Discharge (Authorisation) Regulations 2007.

The prosecution relates to the sewage scheme waste water treatment plant at Tinure in Co Louth.

It is alleged that from May 22 until June 3 last year, Irish Water failed to notify the agency of an incident there.

It is also alleged Irish Water did not operate in accordance with best practice on the issue to ensure that discharge from the works did not cause environmental pollution.

Judge O’Neill was told that there was agreement from both sides for the case to be adjourned for four weeks.

The case resumes in February when Irish Water will have to enter a plea to the charges or possibly have a hearing date set.