Hundreds of gallons of oil spilled into the Mulcaire river on Saturday afternoon, but no fish kills are expected by Limerick County Council and the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board. The authorities have traced the source to an accidental spillage from an oil storage depot in the Pallasgreen area. The spillage stretches for 10 to 15 miles from Pallasgreen to Annacotty and into the Shannon.
The chief officer of the Shannon Regional Fisheries Board, Mr Eamon Cusack, said yesterday the spill had been contained. "Oil booms were put across the river. We expect to prosecute in this instance and we don't anticipate any fish kills as there was a good flow in the river, but there will be some tainting of fish."