Creagh Concrete Products Limited of Blackpark Road, Toomebridge Co. Antrim, has been found guilty of pollution. The company was given an absolute discharge after making a donation of £5,000 to the RSPB.
Creagh Concrete pleaded guilty to one charge of damaging the environment under the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997 at Magherafelt Magistrates' Court yesterday and incurred costs of £55.
An investigation conducted by the Environmental Crime Section of the Environment and Heritage Service found an area destroyed by the waste in and around Lough Beg which is a European designated Special Protection Area (SPA) and an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI).
Notes to Editors:
- In 2003, the defendant disposed of controlled waste at Lough Beg in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health, contrary to Article 4 (1) ( C ) and Article 4 (6) of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997.
- The Magistrate indicated that he would be minded to hand down an absolute discharge if Creagh Concrete made a donation to a relevant charity which is involved with the enhancement of the habitat around the affected area of Lough Beg.
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