There is widespread anger and frustration in Skeheenarinky at what one resident has termed ‘the wanton destruction of an amenity enjoyed by all’. Speaking to The Avondhu Thomas McGrath described what occurred.

“Sometime over Monday evening or night (June 8th) someone dumped a toxic lime green material into the lough at Skeheenarinky. This sludge has mixed with the entire water of the Lough affecting the wild ducks and other birds that inhabit the Lough. There is a scum of some kind after forming on the surface of the water. Some of the birds have already been seriously affected by this toxic stuff. I have never seen anything like it.

"The lough is a local amenity. Lots of families bring their children to feed the ducks and to admire the virtually tame wildlife. Who ever did this were fully aware of what they were doing and show no consideration for the wildlife or for this wonderful amenity where local children can see these birds up close and learn to appreciate nature.”

The substance in the lough is a yellow/green colour and Thomas collected two samples in water bottles last Sunday. He insists that the water was crystal clear in colour up to now. There are no fish in the lough but there are some ducks. Sadly since the discharge, one of four resident mallard ducks that always swam around together has gone missing. Thomas suspects it is a casualty of the pollution.

“I plan on reporting this. Someone has to take responsibly for what’s happened. I haven’t a clue who did it but I reckon they would have need a truck and a hose to dump it here. It wasn’t anyone local that did this I’d say. I’ve asked around and nobody saw anybody dumping anything.”

Thomas is over 30 years living in Skeheenarinky and hates to see wildlife interfered with. "I’m big into protecting nature and even avoid cutting the ditches on my farm so that wildlife can thrive. This material whatever it is could affect the lough for ages to come. Nothing like this has ever happened before," he concluded.

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