Tipperary man fined by IFI for destruction of fishing habitat on well-known river

Inland Fisheries Ireland recently announced that they have fined a Tipperary landowner for destroying stretches of a local and well-known river near Carrick-On-Suir.

Mr Milo Cuddihy was convicted of carrying out instream works on 300 metres of the Lingaun River at Breanormore, affecting the habitats of salmon, trout, lamprey and eel populations.

The accused carried out instream works - works inside the river bed and banks - on the Lingaun River, Co. Tipperary, where 300 metres of river channel had been destroyed.

Mr Cuddihy was fined a total of €4,000, and directed to pay a further €750 in costs to IFI.

IFI became aware of the issue on January 28th 2023, and the case was heard at Carrick-on-Suir District Court on July 5th 2023.

Commenting on both cases, Lynda Connor, South-Eastern River Basin District Director at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) noted: “These were acts of ecological destruction. The actions of the defendants demonstrated a real disregard for the rivers, their fish species and habitats.

"IFI will 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 instream biodiversity such as vegetation and insects.”