Crown immunity queried over pollution

Concern over fish kills during summer

A Northern Ireland Assembly committee has expressed concern about government agencies which pollute rivers having immunity from prosecution.

Members of the Culture, Arts and Leisure committee have been conducting an enquiry following several fish kills during the year.

They said they were particularly concerned about pollution caused by sewage.

Committee chairman Eamon O'Neill said people were annoyed because of the threat posed by pollution to angling in Northern Ireland.

"It is really most annoying to those who are interested in the environment.

"Because they are Crown installations they have immunity from prosecution."

He said this led many to believe proper controls were not being exercised by Crown organisations.

A health board has warned the public to stay away from a County Down river following a further fish kill.

Scores of dead fish were discovered in the Ballybannon River in Annesborough near Castlewellan on Monday.

Investigators are trying to uncover the cause of the kill but in the meantime an Eastern Health Board spokesman has warned the public to avoid the river.

The Assembly committee has also called for safeguards to protect the environment when hydro-electric schemes are put in place.

Members said that too much water was being drawn into these schemes and fish stocks were being harmed as a consequence.