A company has been fined £1,500 plus costs after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety legislation.

Gabriel Kane trading as Northside Demolition was fined following the investigation of a complaint from a member of the public concerned about the demolition of St Peters Church Hall, Fortwilliam Drive, Belfast on 27 March 2006.

Asbestos cement slates had been taken off the roof and thrown to the ground. The majority of the slates were broken thus increasing the risk of asbestos fibre release. The method statement prepared by Northside Demolition was not implemented.

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Following the hearing, Ken Logan, Principal Construction Inspector (HSENI), said: "This incident which involved both work at height and dealing with asbestos was very poorly supervised. Management failed to implement the method statement and to ensure that appropriate work equipment was on site before the work was allowed to start.

"The construction industry must not only ensure that the paperwork, which is evidence of the planning process, is in place but that it is fully implemented."

(JM)