Kilkeel man found guilty of illegal waste offences

A Co Down man was found guilty yesterday at Newry Crown Court of breaching waste management legislation and damaging the environment.

Mr Patrick McComiskey, (55) of Ballynahatten Road, Kilkeel was found guilty by a jury on two counts of breaching the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (NI) 1997.

On several occasions, Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) officers visited his land at Ballynahatten Road, Kilkeel and observed controlled waste deposited in a disused sand pit. NIEA surveyed the land and calculated c.17,000 tonnes of controlled waste had been deposited illegally.

Sentencing has been postponed until 27 October 2009, to allow for confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.

Notes to editors:

1. Mr McComiskey was found guilty on two charges under the following Articles of the Waste and Contaminated Land (NI) Order 1997: 4(1) b, - keeping controlled waste in or on land unless a waste management licence authorising the deposit is in force and the deposit in accordance with the licence 4(1) c - One charge under Article 4(1) c, i.e. treating, keeping or disposing of controlled waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.
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