Bangor man given five year suspended sentence for waste offences

A Co Down man was today given a five year suspended sentence at Newtownards Crown Court for breaches of waste management legislation.

Ignatius Geddis (64) of Belfast Road, Bangor pleaded guilty on five waste charges under The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997.

Mr Geddis was given one year suspended sentence for each of the five offences, to run concurrently, and ordered that he clear the remainder of the controlled waste materials on his land.

Northern Ireland Environment Agency officers investigated his site at Bridge Road South, Helen’s Bay during 2008, where a substantial quantity of controlled wastes was deposited. The site did not have a licence to operate as a waste management facility.

Notes to editors:

1. Mr Geddis was charged on four counts under Article 4(1)(b) and 4(6) and one count under Article 4(1)(a) and 4(6) of The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland Order) 1997.
2. 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.
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