EU court to hear farmer's pollution case

A European court will today investigate the 15-year plight of a Co Kilkenny farmer who claims environmental pollution is causing his livestock to become sick and killing trees on his land.

Castlecomer landowner Dan Brennan alleges that hydrogen fluoride emissions from a local brick factory are causing the problems on his 170-acre beef/dairy farm.

The father-of-four and two vets will present a dossier of evidence to the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee in Brussels this afternoon.

The committee may be able to compel the Government to carry out further investigations into the issue.

The problems began for Mr Brennan in the early 1990s when livestock failed to thrive and hazel, ash and holly trees died off.

Mr Brennan, 38, claims he is completely dissatisfied with the lack of cooperation by the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency on the matter.

Mr Brennan is being supported in his case by the Green Party deputy leader Mary White and other Irish MEPs.

The Petitions Committee will also today hear evidence on a planned waste incinerator in Dublin Bay in a case taken by Cllr Chris Andrews.