Crumlin man subject of £200,000 confiscation order

A Co Antrim man was today made the subject of a £200,000 confiscation order at Antrim Crown Court for waste offences.

This is the first confiscation order secured by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Financial Investigators independently of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (formerly the Assets Recovery Agency).

Brian Thompson George (65) of Ballyutoag Road, Carnaghliss, Nutts Corner, Crumlin, appeared in confiscation proceedings following his conviction on 5 December 2007 when he was fined £75,000 and given a two year sentence suspended for two years.

The waste was discovered on 25 May 2005 during an inspection visit by officers from the NIEA (formerly the Environment and Heritage Service), after they received complaints about illegal dumping. A subsequent intrusive search on 20 July 2005 disclosed various wastes.

At today’s hearing the Court determined that Mr George had financially benefitted from his criminal conduct in the sum of £1,841,571 and made a confiscation order in the sum of £200,000.

The confiscation order is to be paid by 24 September 2009. Should Mr George fail to pay, he will be committed to prison and will still be liable for the payment of the confiscation order.

Notes to Editors:

1. The charges were brought under the following Articles of the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (Northern Ireland) 1997.

Article 4 (1) a – depositing and knowingly permitting waste to be deposited in or

on land without a waste management licence;

Article 4 (1) b - keeping and treating waste in or on land without a waste

management licence; and

Article 4 (1) c – keeping controlled waste in or on land in a manner likely to cause

pollution to environment or harm to human health;

in relation to the keeping, treating or disposing of 50,400 tonnes of inert and non-inert waste in lands he owned at Ballyutoag Road.

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