North Antrim car breaker fined £3,000 for waste offences

Eddie Torrens (49), of Farran Road, Ballymoney, was fined £3,000 plus £454 costs at North Antrim Magistrates’ Court on 1 February 2008 for breaches of waste management legislation.

Environment and Heritage Service officers investigated a site, owned by Mr. Torrens, in February and April 2007 where a substantial quantity of controlled wastes mostly in the form of vehicles and parts of vehicles was deposited. The site did not have a licence to operate as an authorised treatment facility for end of life vehicles. Officers estimated that around 4000 vehicles were on site at the time of the visit.

Mr. Torrens pleaded guilty to six charges under The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. He was fined on two counts of Article 4(1)(b) and Article 4(6), two counts of Article 4(1)(c) and Article 4(6) and two counts of Article 5(1)(b) and 5(8) of The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. He was fined £500 for each of the six charges with court costs of £454, a total of £3,454.

Notes to Editors:

1. The charges related to: the treating, keeping and disposal of controlled waste, or knowingly causing or knowingly permitting controlled waste to be treated, kept or disposed of in or on any land except under and in accordance with a waste management licence. Other charges related to a breach of duty of care, regarding the prevention of the escape of waste from his control.
2. For Media enquiries contact DOE Press Office 028 9054 0014. Out of office hours call the EIS Duty Press Officer on pager 076 9971 5440 and your call will be returned.