Man is fined €18k for illegal dumping in protected bog

A MAN found guilty of dumping in a protected bog has been ordered to pay €18,810.

In a case before Mullingar District Court, the individual was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of €15,000 plus €3,810 in costs for dumping in the protected Milltownpass Bog Natural Heritage Area.

Milltownpass Bog in Co. Westmeath is designated as a Natural Heritage Area (NHA) under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000.

National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger Tríona Finnen gave evidence that on two dates in 2020 she had observed a truck dump soil material within the protected NHA.

The defendant admitted employing a driver to transport the soil, with an estimated 100 truckloads dumped in the protected NHA.

The man also indicated that he intended to appeal the verdict. The case against the other defendant, the truck driver, was adjourned until June 17.