Latest news with #NorthernIrelandEnvironmentAgency
The Independent
25-06-2025
- The Independent
Police investigate after red kite found fatally poisoned in Co Down
Police in Northern Ireland have launched an investigation after a red kite was found fatally poisoned in Co Down. A police spokesperson said tests have confirmed the legally protected bird, which was found dead near Loughbrickland, had been poisoned. It was discovered on land in the Tullymore Road area at the end of December, and has been found to have died by what police believe to have been targeted poisoning using the rodenticide Chloralose and the insecticide Bendiocarb. Red kites previously had vanished entirely from Northern Ireland due to illegal persecution 200 years ago, and were re-introduced in 2008. Mr McDowell said red kites, along with all birds of prey, are protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order. He said this case is 'not the first time we have had reports of this nature in this same area'. 'Two ravens were also recently found dead having been poisoned using similar chemicals, and it saddens me that these incredible birds are being intentionally killed,' he said. Those found guilty of persecution of protected birds of prey can face a custodial sentence and/or fines of up to £5,000 per offence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) along with Northern Ireland Environment Agency has conducted a number of inquiries along with a site visit, and utilised the technical and advisory support of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit throughout the time since the discovery of the red kite. Officers have also worked with colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development to identify poisons being used. Mr McDowell added: 'Our Operation Raptor, Peregrine Watch, is an initiative between the PAW Bird of Prey Sub Group and our Air Support Unit, working alongside local police officers, which uses drones to monitor and protect the nesting sites of birds of prey, and is a direct result of birds being targeted, just like in this case, with very serious and dangerous substances in a number of areas across Northern Ireland. 'Along with our partners we will continue to investigate wildlife crime and seek to prevent further instances, whilst bringing offenders to justice.' A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: 'The intentional poisoning wildlife and birds is abhorrent. 'Supplying, storing (being in possession of) or using a Plant Protection Product (PPP), that has been banned, is an offence. 'It is also an offence to use an authorised PPP in contravention of the conditions and the specific restrictions established by the authorisation and specified on the product label. 'If convicted of committing an offence, fines will incur.' Wildlife crime can be reported by calling 101, or a report can be made online via
Irish Independent
25-06-2025
- Irish Independent
Police investigate after red kite found fatally poisoned in Co Down
A police spokesperson said tests have confirmed the legally protected bird, which was found dead near Loughbrickland, had been poisoned. It was discovered on land in the Tullymore Road area at the end of December, and has been found to have died by what police believe to have been targeted poisoning using the rodenticide Chloralose and the insecticide Bendiocarb. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Red kites previously had vanished entirely from Northern Ireland due to illegal persecution 200 years ago, and were re-introduced in 2008. Mr McDowell said red kites, along with all birds of prey, are protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order. He said this case is 'not the first time we have had reports of this nature in this same area'. 'Two ravens were also recently found dead having been poisoned using similar chemicals, and it saddens me that these incredible birds are being intentionally killed,' he said. Those found guilty of persecution of protected birds of prey can face a custodial sentence and/or fines of up to £5,000 per offence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) along with Northern Ireland Environment Agency has conducted a number of inquiries along with a site visit, and utilised the technical and advisory support of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit throughout the time since the discovery of the red kite. Officers have also worked with colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development to identify poisons being used. Mr McDowell added: 'Our Operation Raptor, Peregrine Watch, is an initiative between the PAW Bird of Prey Sub Group and our Air Support Unit, working alongside local police officers, which uses drones to monitor and protect the nesting sites of birds of prey, and is a direct result of birds being targeted, just like in this case, with very serious and dangerous substances in a number of areas across Northern Ireland. 'Along with our partners we will continue to investigate wildlife crime and seek to prevent further instances, whilst bringing offenders to justice.' A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: 'The intentional poisoning wildlife and birds is abhorrent. 'Supplying, storing (being in possession of) or using a Plant Protection Product (PPP), that has been banned, is an offence. 'It is also an offence to use an authorised PPP in contravention of the conditions and the specific restrictions established by the authorisation and specified on the product label. 'If convicted of committing an offence, fines will incur.'
BreakingNews.ie
25-06-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Police investigate after red kite found fatally poisoned in Co Down
Police in Northern Ireland have launched an investigation after a red kite was found fatally poisoned in Co Down. A police spokesperson said tests have confirmed the legally protected bird, which was found dead near Loughbrickland, had been poisoned. Advertisement It was discovered on land in the Tullymore Road area at the end of December, and has been found to have died by what police believe to have been targeted poisoning using the rodenticide Chloralose and the insecticide Bendiocarb. Testing confirms red kites found dead in December were poisoned. Read more: — Police Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (@PSNIABC) June 25, 2025 Red kites previously had vanished entirely from Northern Ireland due to illegal persecution 200 years ago, and were re-introduced in 2008. Mr McDowell said red kites, along with all birds of prey, are protected in Northern Ireland under the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order. He said this case is 'not the first time we have had reports of this nature in this same area'. Advertisement 'Two ravens were also recently found dead, having been poisoned using similar chemicals, and it saddens me that these incredible birds are being intentionally killed,' he said. Those found guilty of persecution of protected birds of prey can face a custodial sentence and/or fines of up to €5,859 (£5,000) per offence. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), along with Northern Ireland Environment Agency, has conducted a number of inquiries along with a site visit, and utilised the technical and advisory support of the UK's National Wildlife Crime Unit throughout the time since the discovery of the red kite. Officers have also worked with colleagues in the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Development to identify poisons being used. Advertisement Mr McDowell added: 'Our Operation Raptor, Peregrine Watch, is an initiative between the PAW Bird of Prey Sub Group and our Air Support Unit, working alongside local police officers, which uses drones to monitor and protect the nesting sites of birds of prey, and is a direct result of birds being targeted, just like in this case, with very serious and dangerous substances in a number of areas across Northern Ireland. 'Along with our partners, we will continue to investigate wildlife crime and seek to prevent further instances, whilst bringing offenders to justice.' A spokesperson for the Northern Irish Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said: 'The intentional poisoning wildlife and birds is abhorrent. 'Supplying, storing (being in possession of) or using a Plant Protection Product (PPP) that has been banned is an offence. Advertisement 'It is also an offence to use an authorised PPP in contravention of the conditions and the specific restrictions established by the authorisation and specified on the product label. 'If convicted of committing an offence, fines will incur.' Wildlife crime can be reported by calling 101, or a report can be made online via
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents say factory smell like 'rotten eggs'
People living near a milk powder factory have said more needs to be done to tackle a "pungent odour like rotten eggs" which is coming from the site. Residents of Artigarvan, County Tyrone, said they had been concerned about the smells coming from the Lakeland Dairies plant in the village for around five years. Some people are now planning to move away because of the stench, which has been described as "worse than slurry". The factory owners said they were "reviewing a small number of complaints" connected to a smell "noticed on occasion around our site". The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), which investigates environmental safety breaches, said it had received 58 complaints about the smell, noise and dust coming from the factory in the last 12 months. The agency has issued three enforcement notices to the company over the same time period. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Ruth Campbell from the Artigarvan Environment Group said concerns had been raised directly with the company a number of times. "For the past five years we have had a thick pungent odour like rotten eggs sweeping through the air in Artigarvan," she said. "We feel like we are hitting a brick wall every time we raise the smell officially. "No one is helping us." Ms Campbell said some people were even taping their windows shut to keep the smell out and that some parents were not letting their children play outside. She said some children even get "teased about living in smelly Artigarvan". Residents believe the smell is coming from the factory's effluent plant. Charlene Austin said the smell was "worse than slurry". "It's like rotten boiled eggs," she said. "It hits the pit of your stomach. We can't even open our windows or dry our clothes properly. "We have been shouting about this a lot and are fed up to the back teeth. "Something needs fixed now." Artigarvan resident Emma Kelly said trying to get the problem addressed had been "very frustrating". "We feel ignored in so many ways. We've kept a close eye during high milking season and low milking season and the same pungent odour is present. "People are already selling their houses and they are going to struggle selling up. I know if I came into the area I'd turn the car," she said. In a statement, Lakeland Dairies said the facility was "among the most modern in the UK, Ireland and worldwide". The company said it had invested "significantly" in the Artigarvan plant, including the waste water treatment facility. "The company works tirelessly to ensure the plant continues to meet all its legislative requirements and endeavours to meet the expectations of residents," a spokesperson said. "We are monitoring and reviewing a small number of complaints regarding a natural and safe odour that was noticed on occasion around our site in Artigarvan." Lakeland Dairies said it engaged regularly with local people and would continue to do so. "This excellent relationship is not something we take for granted and we will continue to work closely with the residents and their representatives on issues of mutual interest," the company said. The NIEA said of the three enforcement notices one related directly to the odour, one was in connection to a breach of emission limits at the site's effluent treatment plant and the third was related to a surface water breach. "These notices have led to the company carrying out significant improvement works at the site, with more work currently ongoing". The agency said the work had included improvements to their effluent treatment plant, drainage on the site and containment of potential odour sources. It said additional work required at the factory would be completed by the end of next month.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents say factory smell like 'rotten eggs'
People living near a milk powder factory have said more needs to be done to tackle a "pungent odour like rotten eggs" which is coming from the site. Residents of Artigarvan, County Tyrone, said they had been concerned about the smells coming from the Lakeland Dairies plant in the village for around five years. Some people are now planning to move away because of the stench, which has been described as "worse than slurry". The factory owners said they were "reviewing a small number of complaints" connected to a smell "noticed on occasion around our site". The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), which investigates environmental safety breaches, said it had received 58 complaints about the smell, noise and dust coming from the factory in the last 12 months. The agency has issued three enforcement notices to the company over the same time period. Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme, Ruth Campbell from the Artigarvan Environment Group said concerns had been raised directly with the company a number of times. "For the past five years we have had a thick pungent odour like rotten eggs sweeping through the air in Artigarvan," she said. "We feel like we are hitting a brick wall every time we raise the smell officially. "No one is helping us." Ms Campbell said some people were even taping their windows shut to keep the smell out and that some parents were not letting their children play outside. She said some children even get "teased about living in smelly Artigarvan". Residents believe the smell is coming from the factory's effluent plant. Charlene Austin said the smell was "worse than slurry". "It's like rotten boiled eggs," she said. "It hits the pit of your stomach. We can't even open our windows or dry our clothes properly. "We have been shouting about this a lot and are fed up to the back teeth. "Something needs fixed now." Artigarvan resident Emma Kelly said trying to get the problem addressed had been "very frustrating". "We feel ignored in so many ways. We've kept a close eye during high milking season and low milking season and the same pungent odour is present. "People are already selling their houses and they are going to struggle selling up. I know if I came into the area I'd turn the car," she said. In a statement, Lakeland Dairies said the facility was "among the most modern in the UK, Ireland and worldwide". The company said it had invested "significantly" in the Artigarvan plant, including the waste water treatment facility. "The company works tirelessly to ensure the plant continues to meet all its legislative requirements and endeavours to meet the expectations of residents," a spokesperson said. "We are monitoring and reviewing a small number of complaints regarding a natural and safe odour that was noticed on occasion around our site in Artigarvan." Lakeland Dairies said it engaged regularly with local people and would continue to do so. "This excellent relationship is not something we take for granted and we will continue to work closely with the residents and their representatives on issues of mutual interest," the company said. The NIEA said of the three enforcement notices one related directly to the odour, one was in connection to a breach of emission limits at the site's effluent treatment plant and the third was related to a surface water breach. "These notices have led to the company carrying out significant improvement works at the site, with more work currently ongoing". The agency said the work had included improvements to their effluent treatment plant, drainage on the site and containment of potential odour sources. It said additional work required at the factory would be completed by the end of next month.
