Ballymena man convicted of marine waste offence

David McCullough (68) of Old Antrim Road, Ballymena and Gregory Allen (43) of Seacoast Road, Bellarena, appeared at Limavady Magistrates’ Court.

The offences related to the unauthorised construction of sea defences, using approximately 20,000 waste tyres, (which were either buried or resting adjacent to the shoreline of Lough Foyle) at a site owned by Allen, and rented by McCullough, at Seacoast Road. The site did not have a licence from the Department of the Environment to keep controlled waste or use any materials as sea defences.

A formal notice to remove the waste sent to Allen was not complied with. McCullough pleaded guilty to one waste charge under The Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 and one marine charge under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, for which he was given a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years, on each charge. Gregory Allen pleaded guilty to two waste charges for which he was given a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years, on each charge.