K Club May Face Fines Of Up To Over €12 Million Over An Alleged "Unauthorised" Development On River Liffey

That's according to an article in The Irish Examiner newspaper

The K Club in Straffan has been warned it could face a potential fine of up to €12.7 million over an allegedly unauthorised development on the River Liffey, according to The Irish Examiner. 

The newspaper reports that on the 2nd of April, Kildare County Council issued a letter to the resort stating it had received information suggesting that an unauthorised development had taken place, involving the replacement of a hydroelectric generator system and associated works at the resort’s intersection with the river.

“The planning authority’s investigation to date indicates that the development as detailed... would appear to be unauthorised,” the letter read.

It's understood that the Council invited the K Club to submit a written response within four weeks and warned that an enforcement notice could be issued depending on the outcome of the investigation.

If the development is confirmed to be unauthorised, or if the K Club fails to comply with any enforcement notice that may be issued, it could face significant penalties—including a fine or imprisonment, or both.

The penalties range from a €5,000 fine and up to six months in prison upon summary conviction in the District Court, to a maximum of €12.7 million and up to two years in prison if convicted on indictment in a higher court.

The Council stressed that it is the developer’s responsibility to demonstrate that the work is exempt from planning permission requirements.

The original complaint was filed last August by Inland Fisheries Ireland.

Local angling clubs later submitted a follow-up complaint earlier this year.

The second complaint alleged that an “unauthorised hydropower scheme on Straffan weir” had been built without planning approval.

It claimed the installation had diverted the main flow of the River Liffey through turbines to generate electricity, posing a serious threat to migrating salmon smolts during the critical months of March through May.

The Irish Examiner said that, when contacted, The K Club did not respond to a request for comment.