A farming company linked to the Isle of Man’s Health Minister, David Anderson MHK, has been fined £7,500 plus costs for polluting the River Neb.
Anderson Farms Ltd pleaded guilty to polluting controlled waters following the accidental slurry spill at Ballamoar Farm in Patrick.
Mr Anderson, who is a director of the company, branded the fine as ‘disproportionate’.
He said: ‘It was an accident by an employee. We have held our hands up. It was a costly mistake. We are putting things in place so this does not happen again. That will be very expensive and comes on top of this excessively high fine. The fine is disproportionate given the number of fish killed.
‘It is unfortunate we are having to deal with this after an extremely difficult year.’
He said the river pollution conviction would also have an impact on the farm’s Countryside Care payments.
The Deputy High Bailiff’s court heard that the spillage took place when a flap gate leading from the slurry tower to a holding area was accidently left open by an operative after he had finished filling his slurry tanker.
As a result, the holding tank overflowed into the river. The error was only discovered half an hour later.
A total of 28 fish died. Winston Taylor, representing Anderson Farms, said an eel had also been affected but had later recovered.
The company was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £1,063.46 in costs.
Mr Anderson said the employee concerned no longer worked for the company but this had nothing to do with the river pollution incident.
He confirmed a similar accident happened some years ago involving a different employee who again was no longer working for the company.
Environment Minister Phil Gawne, whose department pursued the prosecution, said: ‘The department takes seriously any river pollution incident. We try to work with landowners and farmers as best we possibly can to ensure water courses are properly protected.’