Courts / Kildare / Report

'Profits over compliance': waste management company owner jailed for license breaches

Date
2023-06-09
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Naas
County
Kildare

Summary

Tony Dean, 70, former owner of Dean Waste Management Ltd, was jailed for two years after a judge found him guilty of three breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at a 25‑acre site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co. Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008. The breaches were said to have had a significant environmental impact, with the landfill accepting more waste than it could manage, driven by financial motivation. Judge Melanie Greally noted that €61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site and that large profits had been generated and prioritized over compliance. The judge imposed a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years with the final 12 months suspended, all to run concurrently. Tony Dean pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Profits over compliance': waste management company owner jailed for license breaches. Charges or matters: the three charges; a charge of the recovery of waste without a licence relating to a site at Whitestown Quarry, near Baltinglass, between January 1st and May 1st in 1998; two charges that he, as then director of Nephin Trading Ltd, disposed of or undertook the recovery of waste at a facility in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare otherwise than in accordance with the waste licence then in force, between October 2003 to September 2006 and, separately, between September 2006 and November 2008. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Case subjects

Tony Dean

Convicted Person

Charges: the three charges; a charge of the recovery of waste without a licence relating to a site at Whitestown Quarry, near Baltinglass, between January 1st and May 1st in 1998; two charges that he, as then director of Nephin Trading Ltd, disposed of or undertook the recovery of waste at a facility in Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare otherwise than in accordance with the waste licence then in force, between October 2003 to September 2006 and, separately, between September 2006 and November 2008 (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Judge Greally handed Dean a three-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour. She set a headline sentence of four years on each of the charges, which she reduced to three years with the final 12 months suspended.

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • The Supreme Court
Incident
Journey Or Route

Topics

Stage Sentence

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