An Armagh man has today been convicted at Dungannon Crown Court of waste offences.
Patrick Mackle, 57, of Moy Road, Armagh was sentenced to 150 hours community service following an investigation by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).
On March 19, 2015, officers from the NIEA discovered 1,278 tonnes of waste, consisting of concrete, bricks, tiles, timber, ceramics, stones, tarmac, plastics and sheets of asbestos, buried/stored at an unlicensed site, owned by Mackle, on the Moy Road in Armagh.
The asbestos was subsequently removed under direction from the NIEA.
The removal of the asbestos has resulted in a more favourable outcome for the environment. Efforts to address the remediation of remaining waste will continue.
NIEA strives to achieve a clean healthy environment and will continue to take action against those responsible for adversely impacting our environment to ensure it can be enjoyed for years to come.
Mackle pleaded guilty to one count under each of the following Articles of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) 1997: one charge under Article 4(1)(a), in relation to the keeping of waste; one charge under Article 4(1)(b), in relation to the treating of waste; and one charge under Article 4(1)(c), in relation to the likelihood of pollution to the environment.
