A Lisburn scrap dealer was today given a six months' prison sentence, suspended for three years, at Craigavon Crown Court after pleading guilty to a number of illegal waste offences.

Mr Edwin John Tate (53) of Moira Road, Lisburn (trading as Tate Scrap Metal) was found guilty on four charges under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order (1997).

Following the conviction a confiscation investigation under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 is underway and is being carried out by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency Financial Investigation Team.

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In April 2011, officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Environmental Crime Unit visited a site to the rear of 262 Moira Road, Lisburn, where they observed a range of waste metals on site. These included; beams, vehicle parts, engines, road signs, oil drums, skips filled with waste including scrap metal, white electrical goods and household waste. Officers also observed a mechanical digger, grab, crushing machine and baling machine on site.

On the same date officers visited a site at Bog Road, Lisburn owned by Mr Tate. The front portion of the field had been infilled with soil and stone and was littered with waste vehicle parts including lights, shock absorbers, head rests, brake shoes and tyres, as well as various pieces of metal, plastics and construction and demolition waste.

(CD/H)