Defendants plead guilty to keeping illegal waste

Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners, Foyle Recyclers Ltd and Mrs Sinead O’Hara, a director of Foyle Recyclers Ltd, today pleaded guilty at Londonderry Crown Court to a number of charges of keeping illegal waste.

Foyle Recyclers Ltd pleaded guilty to four charges, Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners to one charge and Sinead O’Hara to one charge. All defendants had previously pleaded not guilty.

The charges relate to the operation of an illegal scrap metal facility by Foyle Recyclers Ltd on land owned by Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners between November 2006 and November 2007.

A fine cannot be imposed at this time because proceedings will be taking place under the Proceeds of Crime Act, with a view to confiscation.

Notes to editors:

1. Foyle Recyclers Ltd pleaded guilty to two charges under each of the following Articles of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997:-

·4 (1) a - depositing and knowingly permitting waste to be deposited in or on land without a waste management licence; and

·4 (1) b - keeping and treating waste in or on land without a waste management licence.

Both Londonderry Port and Harbour Commissioners and Mrs O’Hara pleaded guilty to one charge each under Article 4 (1) b.

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