Crumlin River: No prosecution decision ‘disappoints’ anglers

David Kennedy from Crumlin and District Angling Association said the system for reporting such incidents is broken.

“Of the major fish kills across Northern Ireland between 2019 and 2023, amazingly 32 out of 49 saw no prosecution,” he said.

“As it currently stands there is no recompense for our angling club as the managers of these waters.

“There is no way for us to reinstate what we have lost in terms of the number of fish and the damage to the entire ecosystem and habitat.”

He said urgent change was needed.

“Our river is in a much poorer state due to this major pollution incident, as will be Lough Neagh, where ultimately all this pollution ends up,” he continued.

“Polluters will continue to pollute with impunity while the current approach continues.”

At the time of the incident, NIEA said that it received a report of slurry in the river, upstream of Crumlin.