Parents of illegal Mayo dumper pay €1,800 council clean-up bill

SENTENCING of a 'Man with a Van' who pleaded guilty earlier this year to running an illegal waste disposal service in the Mayo area was put back further by Judge Mary Devins at Achill District Court today. 

Twenty-five-year old Aaron Eaton, Riverdale Court, Castlebar, advertised his services on Facebook, took cash from householders but afterwards dumped their refuse in a number of locations, including a midsummer (St. John's Eve) bonfire.

Total clean-up costs to Mayo County Council from Eaton's illegal activities amounted to just over €1,800.

Items collected and then dumped at a number of locations last summer included Ross, Castlebar; Cregganbrack and Roosky, Knock; Reisk, Ballyhaunis and the site of a bonfire at Rathbawn Grove, Castlebar.

At Castlebar District Court earflier this year, Judge Devins granted an adjournment to today's (Thursday) court in Achill so that medical evidence could be produced.

Tom Walsh, solicitor, defending, told  the court that €1,800 has been paid to Ward McElllin, solicitor for Mayo County Council, to pay for the cost of the various cleanups..

Mr. Walsh explained the compensation monies had been provided by the defendant's parents who have a farm near Ballyhaunis.

He added that the son would pay his parents back by performing farm work.

Mr. Walsh added that his client suffered from autism and Asperger's Syndrome and experts were in court to give evidence to this effect.

The solicitor maintained that Eaton does not have the capacity to appreciate fully the consequences of his actions.

Ward McElllin (for Mayo County Council) declared himself unimpressed by the case put forward on the defendant's behalf.

“It might be that he suffers from a condition but fly-tipping for profit is not acceptable and then trying to hide it all behind Asperger's Syndrome does not impress me," Mr. McEllin continued.

Judge Devins put back sentencing back further until July to see whether the involvement of Western Care organisation, as promised by Mr. Walsh, is forthcoming.