Firm told to pay €10,000 over emissions

A pharmaceutical firm has been given the opportunity to pay €10,000 to charity to avoid criminal convictions after its Dublin plant was found to be releasing excessive* levels of chemical emissions.

Ipsen Manufacturing Ireland Ltd pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to two charges under the Environmental Protection Agency Act, in connection with excessive dichloromethane (DCM) emissions from its plant at Blanchardstown Industrial Park on two dates. Judge John O’Neill heard the prosecution followed a probe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

EPA inspector Thomas Sexton told the court the firm’s level of DCM emissions were eight times the licensed limit* on September 10th last year and 43 times the limit on February 11th last. The court heard DCM is regarded by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as having the potential to cause cancer.

Defence counsel Fiona Murphy said the firm had discovered the problem was a side-effect of switching their cleaning procedures, in a bid to be more “environmentally sound”. The judge said he would strike out the case if Ipsen gave €5,000 to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and Pieta House.

*This article was edited on October 25th, 2016