Environment officers have investigated 16 water pollution incidents since 2010 involving a farm linked to MLC David Anderson.

Details were released following a Freedom of Information request.

The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture was asked how many times since 2010 its officers have had to investigate incidents of farm waste entering the Barnel Stream from Ballamoar farm, Patrick.

It was also asked to state the number of times a caution has been issued over farm effluent entering the stream and whether there had been a successful prosecution.

In its response, DEFA said that it has records of 16 incidents being investigated since 2010.

But the department said it could not give details of cautions as to do so would be a breach of the Data Protection Act.

Prosecution

It said there had been one successful prosecution under the Water Pollution Act of Anderson Farms Ltd, of Ballamoar Farm, in 2013 following an incident in October the previous year.

That prosecution was reported on the front page of the Isle of Man Examiner in June 2013.

We revealed how Anderson Farms Ltd was fined £7,500 plus costs for polluting the River Neb.

The company, of which Mr Anderson is a director, pleaded guilty to polluting controlled waters following the accidental slurry spill at Ballamoar Farm.

Mr Anderson, who was then Health Minister, branded the fine as ’disproportionate’.

He told the Examiner at the time: ’It was an accident by an employee.

We have held our hands up. It was a costly mistake. We are putting things in place so this does not happen again.

’That will be very expensive and comes on top of this excessively high fine.

’The fine is disproportionate given the number of fish killed.’

The Deputy High Bailiff’s court heard that the spillage took place when a flap gate leading from the slurry tower to a holding area was accidently left open by an operative after he had finished filling his slurry tanker.

As a result, the holding tank overflowed into the river. The error was only discovered half an hour later.

A total of 28 fish died.

Winston Taylor, representing Anderson Farms, said an eel had also been affected but had later recovered.

The company was fined £7,500 and ordered to pay £1,063 in costs.

Mr Anderson said at the time that the employee concerned no longer worked for the company but this had nothing to do with the river pollution incident.