Fuel company fined €36,000 for unauthorised advertising signage
A Dublin-based company with a fuel station in Dundalk has been fined a total of €36,000 and ordered to pay costs of €6,300 having been convicted at Dundalk District Court on Thursday (Jan 5) of nine offences arising from the erection of advertising signage.
Economy Fuels Mount Brown Ltd were prosecuted by Louth County Council under Section 19 (1) of the Litter Pollution Act 1997 which covers advertisements placed on certain structures including road traffic information signs.
There were two offences each committed on May 17, June 7 and June 15 last while individual offences were recorded on May 19, 20 and 23. All of the offences occurred at Faughart Lower, Dundalk where the defendants operate a fuel service station.
In addition to being fined €4,000 in respect of each of the nine offences, the company is also required to pay Louth County Council expenses and costs amounting to €6,300 in respect of the successful prosecutions. This leaves the company facing a total charge of €42,300.
Economy Fuels Mount Brown Ltd based at Kilmainham, Dublin 8 were not represented before Judge Flann Brennan while the Louth County Council prosecution was led by Daniel O’Connell & Son Solicitors.
Speaking after the court case, Frank Pentony, Director of Services, Louth County Council, said: “We take the whole issue of unauthorised signage very seriously as it has both environmental and road safety implications given the distraction impact.
“In this case, there was an element of ‘repeat offending’ over a period from mid-May to mid-June and that contributed to the large fine which relates to the number of offences prosecuted. Ideally, we would not need to be bringing this type of prosecution but where offences arise we will continue to use all of the relevant legislation to the fullest extent.”
Ends – January 9, 2012.
.gif)