Ex-UFU boss fined over dumping

Published Thursday, 22 December 2011

The former president of Ulster Farmers Union, Graham Furey, has been fined £20,000 for allowing almost 2,000 tonnes of waste to be illegally dumped on his land.

At Downpatrick Crown Court on Thursday Mr Furey, of Comber Road in the town, was charged with four dumping offences which took place between 2003 and 2008 at land he owned on the Ballyhornan Road, also in Downpatrick.

Staff from the NI Environment Agency uncovered buried waste, including metal drums and lockers and a hydraulic bed frame from the old Downe Hospital, at the land in May 2009.

Mr Furey was fined £5,000 for each charge, which included treating, keeping or disposing of waste in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health.

Local haulier Samuel 'Elvis' Kirk was also fined for depositing and infilling the waste at Mr Furey's land.

Mr Kirk, of Crossgar Road, Killyleagh was ordered to pay a total of £1,500.

Comments

3 Comments

charles in lisbellaw wrote (153 days ago):

Is this one of these same NI farmers who are given annual handouts of taxpayers cash called "single farm payment" so that they are charged to look after and maintain the countryside?. This would appear to be a "leading light" from the farming community given that he is a past president of the UFU, and what an example of a fine upstanding member of our countryfolk. NOT.

Ronald in Newcastle wrote (153 days ago):

Is this the same man who stood for the UUP at the last Local Government Elections in May ??? If yes what have the Party got to say about his conviction, If it was any other Party they would have a lot to say.

adrian in ni wrote (153 days ago):

some people think they are untouchable, the UFU seem to be a poor judge of character. illegal waste must pay better than wheat,not so smug now.