A Co Clare based ferry company which has a contract with the Government to deliver food and other goods to the three Aran islands off Co Galway, was convicted and fined €3000 yesterday for two breaches of EU food hygiene regulations, writes Ann Healy, in Galway
O'Brien Shipping Ltd, which has registered offices at Doolin, Co Clare, was prosecuted by the Western Health Board for six breaches of hygiene regulations after island shopkeepers complained about the manner in which foodstuffs were being delivered by the company's boat, Oileann Arainn.
The company pleaded guilty to five breaches of the regulations following an inspection of the boat and their warehouse at New Docks, Galway, by WHB environmental health officer, Mr Enda Skehill, on September 6th 2002.
Mr Skehill found the warehouse in a filthy condition with straw, dust and building material on the floor. Pallets of foodstuffs were left in the warehouse in ambient temperatures and there was no hot or running water for staff to wash their hands, he said.
On the boat he found pallets of food stored alongside pallets of cement. Vulnerable foods, such as yogurts and cheese, were being stored at ambient temperatures and not in refrigerated conditions, he said.
Judge David Anderson convicted the company of failing to provide refrigerated storage on the ship for vulnerable foodstuffs, thus constituting a serious risk to health. He fined it €1500, plus €1200 costs.
He also convicted the company for allowing the boat's walk-in freezer to be in a filthy condition, and fined it a further €1500.