A bogslide at Meenbog two weeks ago has had a significant impact on local fish and fauna, the Loughs Agency has confirmed.
Staff recently examined the impact of the significant peat slide in the Mourne Beg River and launched a full investigation into the pollution event.
Sinn Féin representatives from both sides of the border met with the Loughs Agency yesterday on the matter.
Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Doherty said that it is clear that there is no shortcut or quick-fix solution to the issue and that it could be years before the river is back running as normal.
Deputy Doherty said: “The Loughs Agency has confirmed to Sinn Féin that there has been a significant impact on the local fish and fauna as a result of this landslide.”
“It is frustrating that this has been allowed to happen, because we learned that not only had we in Sinn Féin objected to the development of the windfarm at the site, but the Loughs Agency had also registered their concerns and specifically warned of the potential of a bogslide of this nature. Had these concerns and objections been listened to and followed, we might have avoided this entire situation.”
“I and my Sinn Féin colleagues welcome the criminal investigation now being launched by the Loughs Agency into this event. It is a serious wake-up call for considerations of large-scale developments located in peatlands. Thankfully, there has been no contamination of the public water supply as a result of this landslide, but there is no guarantee that this would be the case with any future landslide.”
“Sinn Féin is calling on the company responsible for the windfarm at the location of the landslide to permanently cease activities at the site and to withdraw any proposals for future developments there.”
A Cross Border Multi-Agency Working Group met for a second meeting last Thursday to share updates on the various works and investigations they initiated in response to the significant pollution event.
Donegal County Council has confirmed that works are ongoing within the site of a wind farm development in Meenbog, from where the slide originated, to mitigate the impact of the pollution and to reduce the risk of further bog slides. Further meetings of the working group are planned for this week and on an ongoing basis.
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