A woman who paid an unidentified man €5 to remove her rubbish, only to have it discovered by council workers over a wall in Battery Heights, left court €100 poorer this week (September 4 ).
Litter warden Lorraine Derwin told the court how she had discovered some illegal fly tipping “down a bank” in Battery Heights on February 23.
According to Ms Derwin, amongst the rubbish were a number of receipts ccontaining the details of Ms Moira Walker (50 ), with an address in Monksland, Athlone and these were handed in as evidence.
“She claimed she paid someone a fiver to get rid of her rubbish,” said Ms Derwin.
“She was told to come in and give us the name of the person she gave her litter to but she hasn’t done so.”
In her defence, Ms Walker said she had been given one first name but three surnames when she asked about the man who removed her rubbish.
“I’m not the only person in the neighbourhood to have used him. He hasn’t come back,” said Ms Walker.
“If you’re going to entrust your waste to somebody else and it ends up where it does, you are responsible,” said Judge John Neilan.
“If you’re going to entrust your waste with every Tom, Dick and Harry, this is what happen.
“If you were flying from Galway to Dublin, would you let the goalkeeper fly the plane?”
“I don’t drive, I don’t ride a bike. How did my rubbish end up in Battery Heights?” asked Ms Walker.
“I can’t afford the bins,” she said.
Judge Neilan fined the unemployed woman €50, with €50 costs, and gave her three months to pay.
