At Belfast Recorder’s Court Number 1 today, fines of £160,000 originally imposed on 3 July 2007 were reduced but arguments that the charges should be combined were rejected citing the numerous occasions on which the defendant was instructed to cease illegal activity.
The overall fine was reduced from £160,000 to £89,000 and the 4 months' imprisonment suspended for 3 years was retained.
Environment and Heritage Service officers first investigated a site owned by Mr Corey at Tullyrusk Road, Dundrod on 27 November 2004. At follow-up visits, it was estimated that 12,000 tonnes of mixed wastes had been buried on the site and that further waste was being burned on site. In addition there was evidence of water pollution.
Mr Corey pleaded guilty to 25 charges under The Waste & Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 in November 2006. Sentencing was deferred to allow Mr Corey the opportunity to initiate a clean-up of the site. Further waste material was subsequently brought onto the site.
Notes to Editors:
- The controlled waste found at Tullyrusk Road, Dundrod consisted of a mixture of biodegradable and inert wastes. Mr Corey was convicted on five charges of article 4(1)(a) of The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.
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