Ferrys – has lost its waste collection license
A BIN company boss with multiple convictions for illegal dumping has had his waste collection license taken off him.
The National Waste Collection Permit Office (NWCPO) has confirmed that Donegal’s biggest refuse company was told of its decision.
Jim Ferry, who runs Ferry’s Refuse at Manorcunningham and covers most of the county, was was fined €12,000, ordered to pay costs of €30,000 to Donegal County Council and given a six month suspended jail sentence after his latest conviction.
The 56-year-old father of six, of Rossbracken, Manorcunningham had contested 12 charges but was found guilty at Letterkenny District Court a trial.
The case followed an extensive undercover investigation by Donegal County Council’s Waste Enforcement Officer, Dean McClintock.
Covert video recordings showed a Ferry’s lorry dumping waste in pre-excavated holes in a field in Falcarragh in June 2010.
Council officers later found more than 1,000 cubic metres of rubbish buried at the site.
Former employee Marty McDermott claimed in court that he was paid €5,000 by someone he wouldn’t name to dump the waste in order to discredit Mr Ferry.
Senior Counsel on behalf of Donegal County Council, Mr Richard Lyons BL, said Marty McDermott’s evidence was “wholly unbelievable” and “farcical” and told the judge that he was entitled to disregard it.
Judge Paul Kelly said he found McDermott’s evidence to be “vague” and “unconvincing.”
Donegal County Council has confirmed that Ferry’s company has faced 28 charges before the courts in the past 15 years.
Mr Ferry was given four separate suspended prison sentences during various cases before Letterkenny District Court.
He now has until August 11 to apply to Offaly District Court in an attempt to have the decision of NWCPO overturned. The council runs the national office.
If he fails to win the case, it will close the company. It’s not clear how this would effect customers.
Mr Ferry recently paid fines and fees of €274,000 to the Revenue Commissioners for failing to pay VAT collected from his customers.
Tags:
