The owner of an unauthorised skip company has pleaded guilty to seven waste offences at Downpatrick Magistrates' Court.

Oliver McAleenan, 45, of Drumanquoile Road, Ballynahinch, admitted illegally dumping and burying waste from his skip firm beside his house.

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Mr McAleenan pleaded guilty to the charges and was given a four month sentence, suspended for two years, for each charge.

Officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency who investigated the site, calculated that the 119 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste, which included plastics, food and plasterboard, would have cost £14,000 to dispose of legally at licensed sites.

(CD)