Hugh Corey of Dundrod, County Antrim, who received a record fine in July 2007 for breaches of waste legislation, has seen his original sentence reduced. Corey's fine of £160,000 has been cut to £89,000, however arguments that the charges should be combined were rejected, after evidence revealed he had been instructed on numerous occasions to cease the illegal activity. The four month prison sentence, which was suspended for three years, was retained.
We reported back in the August 2007 Monthly Bulletin that Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) officers first investigated the site at Tullyrusk Road, Dundrod on 27 November 2004. At follow-up visits, it was estimated that 12,000 tonnes of mixed biodegradable and inert wastes had been buried on the site and that further waste was being burned. There was also additional evidence of water pollution.
Corey pleaded guilty to 25 charges under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order SI 1997/2778 in November 2006, but sentencing was deferred to allow him the opportunity to initiate a clean-up of the site. However further waste material was subsequently brought onto the site.
