On July 30th 2022 protestors walked along the banks of the River Boyne to Slane from Drogheda and Navan to register their opposition to the plan to pump waste from the Dawn Meats plant into the River. Photo: Andy Spearman.

By Andy Spearman

An April 2022 decision by Meath County Council to allow a meat processing factory to discharge wastewater into the River Boyne has been overturned by An Bord Pleanála (ABP).

The original decision to grant Dawn Meats permission to build a seven kilometre pipeline to discharge wastewater into the Boyne River at Beauparc near Slane caused widespread outrage and sparked a major protest campaign.

An online petition organised by the protest group “Save the Boyne” was signed by over 7,000 people despite assurances from the company that they are “committed to environmental sustainability” and that their state of the art water treatment plant would produce “compliant” water. 

Turning down appeals for an oral hearing ABP said that it had enough information in the submissions and observations it had received to continue the decision making process behind closed doors.

A spokesperson for the Save The Boyne Group said at the time: “What ABP do not understand is that not only is this an issue of local and National importance which could have an impact for generations to come, it is also an issue of transparency. 

In a statement welcoming the decision issued yesterday, 21/01/2025, the Save the Boyne group said it had been long awaited by all those involved in their campaign. 

“While STB Group have concerns about the level of oversight and scrutiny provided at county council level we welcome the decision and more importantly the reasons for the refusal of this application.  The application was rejected mainly on the grounds of protecting perhaps the greatest resource our planet has to offer, Water.

“The Boyne has significant meaning to all its people who share its shores and waterways from the canoeist, the angler, the photographer and those who stroll its environs. It has a shared history and meaning to each person and all collectively. 

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all for taking a stand on such an important issue.  It gives great hope going forward that when people stand together they can prevail. 

“Also the biggest winner in all of this is the Boyne itself, while we take this win we also understand that the River Boyne along with many other waterways in Ireland are under huge stress due to poor planning, poor water treatment plants and general pollutants into our rivers and streams."

 In a statement Dawn Meats said yesterday that it is aware of the decision made by An Bord Pleanála and will consider its options in due course.