More than 1,100 fish killed in "major" pollution incident in Armagh City river

By Adam Evans

Officials are investigating what has been described as a "major fish kill" in a river in Armagh City.

More than 1,100 trout and salmon have died in the Callan after inspectors found pollution.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency says it's taken samples with a view to starting the procedure for prosecutions.

In a statement, the NIEA told Q Radio: "After receiving a report via the Water Pollution Hotline (0800 807 060) on Tuesday evening (June 12), indicating that there were dead and distressed fish in the river, the agency deployed an inspector to the area to investigate and determine the environmental impact. 

"From the immediate investigation, a small number of fish mortalities were confirmed and the river was noted to be running with black discolouration. Prior to poor light preventing further investigation, the inspector traced the discoloured pollutant and identified that the impact was coming from a specific tributary to the River Callan upstream of Armagh City.

"An NIEA investigation team was on site early yesterday and a definite line of enquiry is now being followed. To date approximately 1,000 brown trout and 100 salmon have been counted and work is ongoing to assess the full impact.

"Statutory samples have been collected and evidence gathered with a view to initiating prosecution proceedings through PPS."