Water Pollution and the Law

1 Oct 2026

The Centre for Law & the Environment was delighted to collaborate again with our colleagues in the Southern Law Association (SLA) to organise a CPD seminar for legal practitioners on the theme Water Pollution and the Law.  

The seminar, which took place on 30 September, was chaired by Ms Justice Marie Baker (adjunct Professor at UCC School of Law) and attracted a capacity audience. 

Organised by Juli Rea (SLA) and Áine Ryall (UCC), the contributors were Tom Flynn SC; Pamela McDonnell, Environmental Protection Agency; Donnchadh McCarthy BL; and Lynn Sheehan, Head of Operations, EUAM, Ukraine. 

The seminar explored a range of contemporary issues and challenges around water pollution law and policy.   The contributors examined the legislative framework governing civil and criminal liability for water pollution; challenges in multi-authority water pollution investigations; and the practicalities of bringing and defending water pollution prosecutions.   

Lynn Sheehan, Head of Operations, EUAM, Ukraine, delivered a powerful presentation on the theme From War Crimes to Water Pollution: The Challenges of Gathering Evidence for Complex Prosecutions. 

A special word of thanks to Juli Rea who took the lead in organising the seminar and developing the programme. 

The School of Law acknowledges the generous support of the Southern Law Association.  We look forward to future collaborations. 

L-R: Ms Justice Marie Baker, Lynn Sheehan (EUAM, Ukraine), Donnchadh McCarthy BL