AN IRISH business man in Britain whose actions resulted in the closure of the M60, polluted a river and blighted communities has been sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Barry Kilroe, whose family is orignally from Co. Roscommon and were one-time owners of Aer Arann, has also been disqualified from being a company director for six years.
During sentencing at Manchester Minshull Crown Court, Judge Stuart Driver said that whilst on bail Kilroe had failed to comply with the Environment Agency’s warnings and had acted for financial gain.
A shareholder and director of J25 Recycling Ltd, Recovered Fuels Shipping Ltd and Asset and Land Group Ltd, Kilroe had pleaded guilty to 10 charges relating to the unlawful operation of three waste sites, in Stockport, Salford and Warrington Docks.
Following an intensive Environment Agency investigation, it was discovered that excessive amounts of waste were being imported on to the sites.
A major fire also broke out in August 2013 at the J25 Recycling Ltd site in Bredbury, Stockport - lasting for 41 days.
The fire resulted in the closure of the M60 Motorway and three weeks of disruption to traffic as well as significant disruption to local residents and businesses.
A nearby river was polluted by the fire-fighting water run-off.
Kilroe failed to remove 14,000 tonnes of waste following a fire. (Picture: Environment Agency)Another fire - lasting 19 days - also broke out in March 2014 at the Recovered Fuels Shipping Ltd site in Salford, which led to Network Rail closing the railway line in Salford.
Local roads and main routes to Manchester City Centre were also closed, while local residents and businesses were affected by smoke and ash.
Kilroe failed to remove the waste following the fire, leaving over 14,000 tonnes to be removed by the landowner.
The Manchester man was charged alongside two others - Transport Manager and Company Director, Jane Williams and Financial Director Richard James Davies.
One fire resulted in the closure of the M60 Motorway and three weeks of disruption to traffic (Picture: Environment Agency)Williams pleaded guilty to two charges; one relating to the Salford site for storing waste in excess of its 10,000 tonne capacity, the second charge was for operating the Warrington site without an Environment Agency permit.
She was fined £500.
Davies pleaded guilty to a charge relating to the Stockport site where he failed to provide and implement an adequate environmental management system.
He was given a conditional discharge for 12 months.
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have now invested in an Aerial Imagery Reconnaissance unit detect elevated heat sources within waste piles (Picture: Environment Agency)The Environment Agency brought the case against Mr Kilroe and the other directors after a lengthy investigation.
Lee Rawlinson, The Environment agency’s Area Director for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire, said: “This is one of the biggest cases the Environment Agency has prosecuted.
"We have been committed to do so because of the severity of the offence and cost and impact on the environment, communities and business.
"It has resulted in significant financial impacts to legitimate businesses."
Following the case Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service has invested in an Aerial Imagery Reconnaissance unit.
They are now working in partnership with the Environment Agency to take pictures and videos of waste sites and to detect elevated heat sources within waste piles.
