Inland Fisheries Ireland Prosecute Tipperary Land Owner.

A land owner resident in South Co. Tipperary, named as Mr Milo Cuddihy, has been convicted of carrying out in-stream works on some 300 metres of the Lingaun River at Breanormore, Glenacunna, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
The work undertaken, we understand, affected the habitats of resident fish, including populations of salmon, trout, lamprey and eel.

**Realignment of Lingaun River bed and bank.**
*Pic: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)*

Ms Lynda Connor, South-Eastern River Basin District Director at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) noted that this was an act of ecological destruction, and further declaring this action, by the defendant, as demonstrating a real disregard for the river, their fish species and the local habitat.

Ms Connor said “Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) would continue to prosecute such illegal activity in fulfilment of its remit to protect and conserve Ireland’s important inland fisheries resource. The decimation and removal of a river’s habitat can be devastating in terms of its effects on fish. It can also impact in-stream biodiversity, such as vegetation and insects.”

Mr Cuddihy had carried out the in-stream works on the interior of the river bed and its banks, at the Lingaun River, Co. Tipperary, destroying 300 metres of the river channel.
IFI had learned of the issue first on January 28th 2023, and the case was heard at Carrick-on-Suir District Court on July 5th 2023 last, with Mr Cuddihy fined a total of €4,000, and directed to pay a further €750 in costs directly to IFI.

Ms Connor concluded by stating, quote; “Landowners need to seek all necessary and relevant information from their advisors, and from Inland Fisheries Ireland, before carrying out any works near, or on, a watercourse adjacent to their land. The appropriate window for any in-stream works is strictly between July and September, but only with the guidance and permission of IFI. During the closed season, from October to June, no works should take place in a river.
IFI continues to encourage members of the public to report incidents such as this, and those of water pollution, fish kills, and illegal fishing to its 24/7 phone number, TEL: 0818 34 74 24.”