A Bangor man has appeared at Newtownards Crown Court to appeal against five charges relating to breaching waste management legislation.

Ignatius Geddis, 61, of Belfast Road, Bangor, was appealing against earlier fines which totalled £32,500 and a six month suspended sentence given on 14 December.

All five charges were levelled out at fines of £8,000 each which resulted in a net increase of £7,500 to a sum of £40,000.

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The six months suspended sentence was removed because this would impede on Mr Geddis' licence condition as a haulage contractor. As he employs 15 people the removal of his licence would affect their livelihoods.

According to the barrister, Mr Geddis has spent £22,500 to date, clearing waste materials from his site and he was made to give a personal undertaking, under oath, by the judge, to permit Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) to enter his site and to carry out any inspections that they might deem necessary.

Mr Geddis also gave a personal undertaking to provide the department with all waste transfer notes for waste material removed from the site.

Any default by Mr Geddis in any of the undertakings means he will be held in contempt of court.

(JM)