Clare County Council has vowed to clamp down on illegal dumping at a number of litter blackspots throughout County Clare.The announcement comes after the Council successfully secured prosecutions against four litter offenders at Limerick District Court on Friday 16th October, 2009. The cases were instituted pursuant to the Litter Pollution Acts, 1997-2003, and related to littering offences at Clare County Council’s bring bank facilities in Westbury.
Judge Tom O’Donnell awarded costs to Clare County Council of EUR645.00 each in two cases, EUR800.00 in another and deferred costs in the fourth case to a later court date. Fines totalling EUR450.00 were also imposed on three of the offenders. Prior to the court sitting, two other offenders settled with Clare County Council outside of court and paid the Council’s full costs plus a litter fine of EUR150.00 in each case. There are a further twelve cases pending in respect of littering offences at the Westbury bring banks which are due for hearing at Limerick District Court in mid-December.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr. Tony Mulcahy commented: “The successful prosecution of these cases is another success story for Clare County Council in eradicating litter in the County, and the message must go out that it is an offence to litter and you will be prosecuted.”
According to Betty Devanny, Administrative Officer, Environment & Water Services Directorate, Clare County Council: “The Council’s bring bank facilities at Westbury have been the subject of illegal littering in recent months. Following an increase in the number of complaints received from members of the public, the Council decided to engage the services of a CCTV surveillance company to monitor the area. This monitoring activity helped the Council to secure these successful prosecutions. The Local Authority will continue to monitor this site and other litter blackspots throughout County Clare.”
“These successful prosecutions will hopefully continue to change the behaviour of the public in relation to the use of bring banks and the correct disposal of recyclable materials at these facilities. I wish to acknowledge the work of the staff of the Environment Section’s Waste Enforcement Team in bringing these cases to a successful conclusion”, added Ms. Devanny.
Clare County Council's dedicated multi-disciplinary Waste Management Enforcement Team, which was established in May 2004, continues to police and prosecute breaches of the law. Activities undertaken include the use of closed circuit television in suitable situations and the tracking of suspect vehicle movements. The Local Authority also employs two Environmental Patrol Wardens whose day-to-day patrols are carried out throughout Clare in both a proactive patrol capacity and in response to complaints received from members of the public. Further information on Clare County Council's Waste Enforcement Unit is available from the Environment Section of Clare County Council on 065 6846331 or www.clarecoco.ie.
