First person extradited by NIEA to Northern Ireland sentenced for waste criminality
Micheal Meegan [57] of Drumbilla, Skyhill, Co. Louth, was sentenced on Thursday 17th October 2024 to fines totalling £1,500 plus a £60 Offender levy at Newry Crown Court for two breaches of waste management legislation.
Mr Meegan pled guilty to two of four waste offences on 8 November 2024, the other two remaining on the books.
He is the first person to be successfully extradited to the North by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), to face charges relating to waste criminality.
NIEA officers inspected a site, rented by Mr. Meegan at 75 Ballsmill Road Crossmaglen on 17 November 2017 where they discovered 55 End-of-Life-Vehicles (ELVs).
An NIEA Officer established that Mr Meegan was in control of the site. Mr Meegan failed to remain at the site to allow NIEA officers to discuss the presence of the ELVs.
On 1 December 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 Mr Meegan to cease activity.
Mr 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 1 February 2018.
A further six site inspections by NIEA officers between 26 February 2018 and 24 September 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 for Mr Meegan. An international warrant was issued in respect of Mr Meegan in August 2023 and he was subsequently detained on 5 January 2024 and returned to the NI jurisdiction on 24 January 2024 where he was to remain until the trial was heard.
On 17 October 2024 Mr Meegan pleaded guilty to two waste charges.
Mr Meegan 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.
