Press release

Furey fine should be a warning to polluters

22 December 2011

Following today's sentencing of Graham Furey, the former President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, at Downpatrick's Crown Court, Friends of the Earth said the £20,000 fine should be a warning that polluting doesn't pay. Mr Furey was convicted of running an illegal landfill site. Friends of the Earth is campaigning for an independent Environmental Protection Agency [1].

Friends of the Earth campaigner, Declan Allison said:

"This is a serious crime and the court has sent out a strong signal that it does not pay to pollute. This is not the end of the matter though. The waste will continue to pollute for 40 or 50 years. Mr Furey should remove the illegally dumped waste and redispose of it at a fully licensed site at his own expense."

"As President of the Ulster Farmers' Union, Graham Furey campaigned against an Environmental Protection Agency that would have been an effective watchdog against environmental crime. In the absence of an independent environmental regulator, the responsibility falls on the judiciary to pass strict sentences that will deter others from repeating this type of offence. Judges in other courts around the country must now take environmental crime seriously."

He added:

"It's time for the Department for Agriculture and Rural Development to review the generous payments made to polluting farmers. To reward good practice, they must withdraw Single Farm Payments when farmers are found guilty of non compliance."

Notes

1. The Minister for the Environment announced a discussion paper on environmental governance in August including options for an independent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Consultation responses showed an overwhelming response (83%) from the public on the need for an EPA.

2. Farming is the only business sector which is paid to comply with environmental law. The former President of the UFU has received over £500,000 in farm subsidy over the last ten years for cross compliance measures which include protecting the environment.

Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland
7 Donegall Street Place
BELFAST
BT1 2FN
Tel: 028 9023 3488
Fax: 028 9024 7556
Email: foe-ni@foe.co.uk.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust