17/12/2013

Other News In Brief

Man Dies In Belfast Collision

A 62-year-old man has died in a one vehicle collision in Belfast city centre.

The man died after his car reportedly crashed into a metal barrier in the Victoria Street area on Monday night.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.

Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Farmer Fined Over Pollution Offence

A County Armagh farmer submitted a guilty plea and was fined £500 plus £31 court costs at Newry Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Mr Roger Foster, of Blaney Road, Newtownhamilton, was fined for making a polluting discharge to a waterway.

The charges relate to an incident on 11 January 2013, when Water Quality Inspectors inspected a waterway at Barkers Road, Newtownhamilton and observed a contaminated waterway with large growths of sewage fungus. Approximately one mile of waterway was affected by the discharge. The source of the polluting discharge was traced to a farm owned by Mr Foster.

A sample taken at the time of the incident confirmed that the discharge contained poisonous, noxious or polluting matter which was potentially harmful to fish life in the receiving waterway.

Scrap Dealer Fined For Waste Offences

A County Down scrap vehicle dealer was fined a total of £1,472 for unauthorised waste offences at Newry Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Gerald Oliver Byrne (61) of Benagh Road, Mayobridge was charged on four counts under the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 in relation to waste offences at his scrap vehicle site.

Mr Byrne was fined £600 and ordered to pay court costs of £25 and £847 compensation.

During a visit to Mr Byrne’s premises in March 2012, officers from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency found quantities of tyres, scrap vehicles and parts being stored without the appropriate authorisations. During subsequent visits in May and August 2012, Mr Byrne failed to comply with an instruction to clear the site. The site has recently been cleared.

Woman Convicted Of Benefit Fraud

A woman was convicted at Newry Magistrates’ Court yesterday for claiming benefits she was not entitled to.

Ann Meaney (52) of Ard Ross, Crossmaglen claimed Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £8,068 while failing to declare capital. She was fined £300 and ordered to pay court costs of £34.

She is also required to repay any outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

(IT/CD)

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