Waterford County Council, which is using private detectives to crack down on litter louts, was praised by Judge Michael Pattwell at Youghal Court yesterday.
He urged other councils to follow Waterford's example. "One of my pet hates is people who dump their rubbish indiscriminately," he said.
The court was told by Ms Ann Kiely, of Waterford County Council, that illegal dumping had been taking place in a quarry at Knockbrack, near Clashmore, for some years despite warning signs.
Mr James Goldsbury, of the Private Litter Detection Agency, gave evidence of watching illegal dumping on March 15th. He said he hid behind a ditch to take photographs of Martin Walsh, of Kilmeady West, Clashmore, tipping household and farmyard waste on the edge of the road from his tractor-trailer. Walsh, who did not appear in court, was fined the maximum £800 and ordered to pay another £664 in costs and expenses.
Five others who were represented in court were also fined, all for offences on April 12th. John Power (65) of Curradarra, Aglish, was fined £100, with £363 costs. "But for his age, I would be thinking of a public clean-up by him of the mess he left behind," the judge said.
Laurence Looby (62), of College Road, Ardmore, was fined £200, with £250 costs, and his son, Noel, of the same address, was fined £100, with £250 costs. Thomas Ahearne (66), of Grange, Ardmore, was fined £100, with £363 costs, and Michael Costin, a pensioner who dumped grass cuttings, was fined £10, with £363 costs.