A NUMBER of recent prosecutions before the Limerick District Court brought by Limerick City and County Council sent out a warning that if you dump rubbish illegally you face being named and shamed and hit with fines.
A man and a woman, each with an address at Bourke Avenue, Limerick City, were two of the latest to be convicted and fined for illegal dumping.
Neither Adam Stephenson nor Ann Marie Stephenson, of Bourke Avenue, were present when their case was called before Judge John King at Limerick District Court.
Solicitor for the Council, Will Leahy, informed the court that summonses were issued to the two defendants by registered post.
An enforcement officer with the local authority gave evidence that on January 29 last they received a complaint from a member of the public in respect of a “substantial amount” of rubbish dumped alongside a boat on a grassy knoll near a river in the Mungret area.
The officer said they found bags of rubbish and window frames in a damaged boat alongside two mattresses at the scene. Evidence relating to the defendants was also found among the rubbish, the witness alleged.
The officer said that when they returned later to clean up the rubbish “it was gone”.
The Council sent each defendant a €150 fixed charge notice by registered post, followed by two payment reminders sent on April 4 and April 22.
The fines were not paid, the court heard.
Neither defendant had any previous convictions, it was also heard.
Judge King convicted both defendants, fining them €150 each plus the Council’s costs of €350, with three months to pay.
The judge fixed recognisance for each accused, on their own bond of €300, to be lodged, in the event they decide to appeal their convictions.
Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
