Co Down man to pay £204,500 for illegal offences

A Mayobridge man has been forced to hand over £204,500 and given a suspended jail sentence after he was convicted of serious waste offences.

Patrick Joseph Murphy (57) of Hilltown Road, Mayobridge, Co Down, a Director of Mourne Compost, pleaded guilty to two charges of keeping controlled waste without a licence at Newry Crown Court .

He was given a 12 month prison sentence, suspended for two years. The case involved over 40,000 tonnes of household, commercial and inert waste, some of which originated from the Republic of Ireland.

The court made a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for £204,500 in relation to benefit from his criminal conduct. This has to be paid within 12 months.

Notes to editors:

1. Mr Murphy pleaded guilty to one charge under each of the following Articles of the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (Northern Ireland) 1997:

• 4(1)(a) i.e. depositing of controlled waste in or on land unless a waste management licence authorising the deposit is in force and the deposit is in accordance with the licence.
• 4(1)(b) .i.e. keeping and treating waste in or on land without a waste management licence.

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