Two north Tipperary publicans have been fined €600 and ordered to pay €1,655 expenses for allowing human waste from their premises to flow untreated into Lough Derg.
Brothers, Frank and Ger Bracken of Larkin's Bar, Garrykennedy, Portroe - who failed to appear at Nenagh District Court - were charged with causing or permitting polluting matter to enter Lough Derg contrary to Section 3 of the Local Government (Water Pollution) Act, 1977 and as amended by the Local Government Act, (Water Pollution) 1990 and Waste Management Act, 1976.
Donal Mackey, environmental technician with the council said he took samples from an outlet pipe at Garrykennedy on August 24th and 25th last year, and confirmed a discharge entering the lake.
He said that following an investigation, including a dye test, it was confirmed that the discharge was coming from Larkin's pub.
The court heard that results from tests carried out on the material by the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed it was polluting matter consistent with human and kitchen waste.
The court also heard that both defendants had since taken steps to address the problem.
They had put in place a waste treatment system to cater for waste from the toilet and kitchen areas.
Council environmental technician, Margaret O'Sullivan told the court that samples taken from the same outlet in to Lough Derg on May 17th of this year confirmed that pollution levels had dropped significantly.
She also confirmed that a treatment system had been put in place.