Alleged pollution of Limerick canal put under the spotlight by RTÉ

Tom Ryan says he has had enough of investigations into pollution in the Loughmore Canal / Barnakyle River, which runs through his land, and wants it stopped | FILE PHOTO

placeholder image — Tom Ryan says he has had enough of investigations into pollution in the Loughmore Canal / Barnakyle River, which runs through his land, and wants it stopped | FILE PHOTO

ALLEGED pollution and discharges from a Limerick business park were the focus of an RTÉ Investigates programme which aired last night.

Former Limerick senior hurling manager Tom Ryan, who farms on a site adjacent to IDA Ireland's Raheen business park, claims that his cattle have become ill due to discharge from the Loughmore Canal.

He has alleged the pollution has come as a result of the increase of businesses based at the industrial estate, where close to 6,000 are employed.

Mr Ryan first suspected pollution upstream because of visible residues when the system flooded and spilled out onto his land.

He has submitted video recordings and complained about this to IDA Ireland and the local authority for more than a decade.

Limerick farmer raises fresh concerns over 'industrial pollution of worst kind’

In response to questions posed by RTÉ Investigates, the IDA said two ecologists, working on its behalf and the contractor, were on site to test the dredged material.

In relation to the wider issue of pollution, it said the root cause had not been found – but that it could be coming from a number of sources.

The IDA said it "has been and remains committed to, working with [the council] to establish the source of any pollution" and that it would carry out "any remedial works" if required.

With respect to Raheen Business Park, Limerick City and County Council said in a statement to RTÉ that it is still working on the matter.

It said its investigation was "live and continuing".

Referencing "the scale and nature of Raheen Industrial Estate and adjoining lands", it said it was working with the IDA and other stakeholders on all of the related issues.

It said it expects a report from the IDA on "targeted sampling from within the Business Park" imminently.