Pomeroy land developer fined £12,000 for waste offence

A Co Tyrone man was today fined a total of £12,000 plus £37 court costs at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Joseph McKernan (46) of Keenaghan Road, Pomeroy, pleaded guilty to four charges of breaches of waste management legislation.

On 25 April 2007, officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), (formerly Environment and Heritage Service), found an estimated 42,000 tonnes of excavated material at Cashel Lane, Keenaghan, deposited up to two metres deep.

Mr McKernan, the land owner, admitted depositing the waste from house building sites that he owned in the area without authorisation or planning permission. NIEA estimated that Mr McKernan was able to save himself over £200,000 in legal waste disposal costs.

Notes to Editors:

1. The controlled waste on this site was excavated clay and rocks.
2. Mr McKernan was fined £4,000 and £2,000 for two offences under Article 4(1)a of The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. The charges related knowingly permitting controlled waste to be deposited in or on land unless a waste management licence authorising the deposit is in force and the deposit in accordance with the licence. He was also fined £4,000 and £2,000 for two offences under Article 4(1)b of The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. The charges related to keeping controlled waste in or on land unless a waste management licence authorising the deposit is in force and the deposit in accordance with the licence.
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