Latter day Cnuts rapped over sea defences

Two latter day Cnuts who tried to hold back the waves of Lough Foyle with approximately 20,000 of waste tyres, buried or resting adjacent to the shoreline, were given suspended sentences at Limavady Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
By Staff Reporter
Published 18th Nov 2015, 16:46 BST
A DoE photo shows some of the tyres used in the unlawful sea defences constructed along a portion of the banks of the Foyle.A DoE photo shows some of the tyres used in the unlawful sea defences constructed along a portion of the banks of the Foyle.
A DoE photo shows some of the tyres used in the unlawful sea defences constructed along a portion of the banks of the Foyle.

Gregory Allen (43) of Seacoast Road, Bellarena, Limavady and David McCullough (68) of Old Antrim Road, Ballymena were each given suspended sentences for the illegal sea defences.

The sentences were for breaches of waste and marine legislation.

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The offences related to the unauthorised construction of sea defences at a site owned by Mr Allen, and rented by Mr McCullough, at Seacoast Road, Bellarena.

Some of the tyres used in the unlawful sea defences constructed along a portion of the banks of the Foyle. Photo: DoESome of the tyres used in the unlawful sea defences constructed along a portion of the banks of the Foyle. Photo: DoE
Some of the tyres used in the unlawful sea defences constructed along a portion of the banks of the Foyle. Photo: DoE

The site, visited on March 19, 2014 by officers of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), 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 Mr Allen was not complied with.

Gregory Allen pleaded guilty to two waste charges 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.

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David 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.

The site in question is located between Limavady and Magilligan on the shores of Lough Foyle.

Related topics:LimavadyBallymena