Dead sheep are being left to rot in rivers flowing into Lough Neagh – which supplies local drinking water – prompting calls for an urgent multi-agency clean-up
Councillor Kevin McElvogue has accused authorities of “passing the buck” over a growing environmental and public health risk.
Speaking at the July 8 Environment committee meeting of Mid Ulster District Council, the Independent representative for Clogher Valley commented: “I just want to raise the dumping of dead animals in the Clogher Valley which is an ongoing issue — especially this year.
“I have to say the Council removed the ones in Clogher, but there’s the ones in the river at Ballygawley. Now, this is the fourth week on Friday and they’re still lying there, decaying.
“These weren’t lambs, they were fully grown sheep. What did they die of? Nobody seems to know what they died of. Nobody seems to have any problem with them lying there. The agency is just passing the buck from one to the other.
“If it was dumped in my field, and somebody reported them, I think you would be made to move them, which doesn’t seem to be happening there.
“They’re lying in the river — they’re rotting into Lough Neagh and it’s coming back out as drinking water, which I think is totally ridiculous.
“There’s been 10 or 15 in there, and a couple of them washed away. There was one down the river about six weeks ago. I was told just yesterday there was a blockage, and there was at least another ten sheep stuck in that blockage — dead sheep as well.
“So, it did start off with a farmer who has no respect for anybody. But I think if the farmer isn’t caught doing it, then somebody’s going to have to take responsibility and remove them.
“I was talking to [Mid Ulster District Council] Chief Executive [Adrian McCreesh] on Monday, and he’s arranging a meeting with the Rivers Agency, so hopefully we can get that on board.”
Assistant Director of Environmental Services, Mark McAdoo told the Independent representative: “In relation to the dumping of animal carcasses, there is correspondence back from the DAERA Minister which sets out the responsibilities of each body in relation to that, and I believe that correspondence — if it hasn’t already — is going to be circulated to all members, but that can certainly be discussed further at the meeting you’ve referred to.”
Councillor Mark Robinson (DUP, Clogher Valley DEA) echoed Councillor McElvogue’s comments: “I would have similar concerns. I think it’s a disgrace that these carcasses can be left lying in the river — this is the same river that flows into the Blackwater and into Lough Neagh and is then used as drinking water.
“And I think it’s disgraceful that the department isn’t trying to recover these carcasses rather than letting them rot in the river. It’s just a disgrace.
“If it was a farmer’s land, he would be made to remove them. These departments — whether it’s DAERA or whether it’s the Rivers Agency — somebody should be responsible for them.
“I know they didn’t put them there, but if there was a flood in the morning and it flowed out onto the farmer’s land, the farmer’s responsible for them. So why aren’t some of these agencies responsible?”
Councillor James Burton (DUP, Dungannon DEA) remarked that the dumping of carcasses was also occurring in his own area: “On the back of what Councillor McElvogue had to say about the meeting with the DAERA — could that be opened out to other members, maybe just outside the Clogher Valley area?
“Because I’ve had the same issue in the Dungannon area, and it could be useful just for all members to maybe express their concerns in relation to this issue.”
