Drone deployed by council to inspect scrap vehicle site

A MEATH County Council waste enforcement official has told Navan District Court that he used a drone as part of his inspection of a two-acre site where 100 “end of life” vehicles were being stored without a waste permit.

Declan Grimes was giving evidence in a prosecution taken by the council against Thomas McHale of Paddinstown, Kilcock, Co Meath who admitted four charges relating to the holding, recovery, or disposal of waste contrary to the Waste Management Act on his lands on dates in 2020.

Mr Grimes said that there had been waste activity going on at the site since 2014 and this was without authorisation. He had carried out inspections on dates in February and October that year. An inspection in February 2020 he found 100 end-of-life vehicles and these were categorised as waste. Some cars had been disassembled and he found engines, tyres and exhausts. Some of the engines were on permeable ground, “presenting a considerable risk to the environment”.

Mr Grimes said that attempts had been made to engage with Mr McHale and a Section 55 notice requiring him to take action was not complied with. In October 2020 a commitment to clear up the site was not complied with. By January and February of this year a commitment to clean up the area had still not been complied with and there were still 30 vehicles on the land.

Defending solicitor William O’Reilly said that his 55-year-old client was self-employed in crash recovery work. There had been a number of third parties using the site and he had put a stop to that. He was very apologetic for what had happened and that apology was sincere. There were now only three vintage vehicles left on the site and these were part of his client’s hobby. The man had also suffered from health difficulties, the solicitor said.

Solicitor for the council Miriam Regan said that defendant had seven previous convictions under the Waste Management Act and had paid €15,500 in fines.

Judge Marie Quirke said that the offences were very serious. The council had very serious responsibilities in relation to the environment and that is why the prosecutions had been taken.

She imposed fines of €12,000 plus costs and warned that if the defendant reoffended a custodial sentence would have to be considered.