Northern Ireland rug firm fined for unauthorised canal work

Summarised from Belfast Live's report · Updated 29 Oct, 18:45 · Archive

Kukoon Rugs, a Northern Ireland company with £20m annual trade, pleaded guilty to unauthorised work affecting Newry Canal and was fined £1,000.

Kukoon Rugs, a family-run rug company based in Newry with annual sales of £21 million, pleaded guilty at Newry magistrates court to carrying out unauthorised work affecting Newry Canal. The company was fined £1,000.

Concerns about the work on the canal banks were first raised in November 2023, leading to a Police Service of Northern Ireland investigation. The Public Prosecution Service decided to prosecute in September. The company, which ships approximately 8,000 rugs per week globally and was shortlisted for the 2026 EY Entrepreneur of the Year programme, operates from Shepherd's Way in Newry near the canal and has a flagship store in Belfast.

The Department for Communities said it was aware of the court judgment and recognised the work of law enforcement partners in tackling heritage crime at scheduled monuments.

Read the report

• NI rug company pleads guilty to doing unauthorised work affecting local canal“The department is aware of this court judgment and recognises the work of the PSNI and Public Prosecution Service (PPS) for their continued commitment to tackling heritage crime."Belfast Live · 29 Oct, 18:24

In this story: Kukoon Rugs · Newry Canal · Northern Ireland · Newry magistrates court · Paul Vallely · Clare Walsh

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