A County Louth man has become the first ever person to be extradited to Northern Ireland by the Environment Agency (NIEA) following the discovery of an illegal car breaker site in Crossmaglen.
Micheal Meegan, of Drumbilla, Skyhill, was today (Thursday) sentenced to fines totalling £1,500 plus a £60 Offender levy at Newry Crown Court for two breaches of waste management legislation.
The 57-year-old pled guilty to two of four waste offences; the other two remaining on the books.
Meegan is the first person to be successfully extradited to Northern Ireland by the NIEA, to face charges relating to waste criminality.
NIEA officers inspected a site, rented by Meegan at 75 Ballsmill Road, Crossmaglen on November 17, 2017 where they discovered 55 End-of-Life-Vehicles (ELVs).
An NIEA Officer established that Meegan was in control of the site. The defendant failed to remain at the site to allow NIEA officers to discuss the presence of the ELVs.
On December 1, 2017, having established that there were no licenses or other authorisations in place to permit vehicle breaking on site, the NIEA issued a Notice to Meegan to cease activity.
Meegan was also ordered to remove the waste and supply paperwork to the NIEA to prove its lawful disposal.
This work was to be completed by February 1, 2018. A further six site inspections by NIEA officers between February 26, 2018 and September 24, 2019 revealed that not only had the Notice not been complied with, but that further ELV waste was being deposited, kept, and treated on the site.
The controlled waste found at 75 Ballsmill Road, Crossmaglen during the course of the NIEA investigation consisted of up to 100 ELVs which included lorries and heavy plant machinery, cars, tyres, chemical/oil drums, lead acid batteries, vehicle parts and paint cans.
After three attempts to serve summons, an arrest warrant was granted in March 2023.
Subsequently, an international warrant was issued in August 2023.
Meegan was detained on January 5, 2024 and returned to the jurisdiction on January 24 where he was to remain until the trial was heard.
Today, Meegan pleaded guilty to two waste charges. He was fined on two counts of £750 each, a total of £1,500 and court costs of £60. The charges related to the unauthorised treating and keeping of controlled waste.
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