Uisce Éireann fined for chemical spill that killed tens of thousands of fish in north Cork river

Uisce Éireann fined €3,500 after it pleaded guilty to one of three pollution charges in the wake of the chemical spill in the River Allow

A leak of highly corrosive polyaluminium chloride from the Uisce Éireann water treatment plant at Freemount near Kanturk Co Cork caused 'irreparable damage' to the Allow river. Picture: Larry Cummins

A highly corrosive chemical that killed tens of thousands of fish, damaging their gills and quickly degrading their flesh in a north Cork river leaked from pipes which were not adequately reinforced at an Uisce Éireann water treatment plant.

A leak of polyaluminium chloride straight into the Allow river — an important place for salmon and trout nurseries — did “irreparable damage”, turning parts of the river a ghostly grey, discolouring the dead fish and the river bed.