Fermanagh farmer jailed for waste offences

2 Jan 2008

Philip Johnston of Cules, Killadeas, Co Fermanagh, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court.

He had previously been convicted on two charges of breaching waste legislation. He was also fined a total of £10,000.

Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) officers investigated Mr Johnston’s farm at Killadeas on 8 October 2004, bringing an excavator on site under warrant. An estimated 1,900 tonnes of municipal-type waste was found buried under pasture to the rear of Mr Johnston’s farmyard. The controlled waste found on the farm consisted of a mixture of biodegradable wastes, including food packaging, plastics, papers & low-grade medical waste such as surgical gloves etc

All addressed items of waste noted by EHS officers were attributable to premises in Cork, Dublin and Wexford.

Mr Johnston contested two charges brought under The Waste & Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. The court was told by the defence that waste paper was brought on to Mr Johnston’s farm to provide bedding for livestock quarantined as the result of a brucellosis outbreak. Mr Johnston was convicted of both charges on 23 November 2007.


		return to news page Fermanagh farmer jailed for waste offences 2 Jan 2008 Philip Johnston of Cules, Killadeas, Co Fermanagh, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment at Enniskillen Magistrates’ Court. He had previously been convicted on two charges of breaching waste legislation. He was also fined a total of £10,000. Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) officers investigated Mr Johnston’s farm at Killadeas on 8 October 2004, bringing an excavator on site under warrant. An estimated 1,900 tonnes of municipal-type waste was found buried under pasture to the rear of Mr Johnston’s farmyard. The controlled waste found on the farm consisted of a mixture of biodegradable wastes, including food packaging, plastics, papers & low-grade medical waste such as surgical gloves etc All addressed items of waste noted by EHS officers were attributable to premises in Cork, Dublin and Wexford. Mr Johnston contested two charges brought under The Waste & Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. The court was told by the defence that waste paper was brought on to Mr Johnston’s farm to provide bedding for livestock quarantined as the result of a brucellosis outbreak. Mr Johnston was convicted of both charges on 23 November 2007. Read more about this case.