Derry company directors charged with £41m landfill tax evasion

Three directors of a Derry company have appeared in court charged  in connection with illegal dumping on the outskirts of the city.

Paul Doherty (56), of Culmore Road, Derry, Gerard O’Malley (46), from Ballintemple Road , Killeavy, Newry and Gerard Martin Farmer (46), Westllake, Derry were charged with a number of offences including depositing and keeping controlled waste and keeping waste likely to cause harm.

They are also charged with acquiring more than £41m through unpaid landfill tax.

Doherty, a director of director of Campsie Gravel and Sand Limited, is charged with acquiring criminal property, namely £30,887,640 in unpaid landfill tax, between 1 April 2007 and 21 May 2013.

Farmer and O’Malley, directors of City Industrial Waste Limted, were charged with acquiring criminal property, namely £10,928,960.00, between the same dates.

All three declined to comment or call witnesses when the charges were put to them at a preliminary enquiry at Derry Magistrates Court this morning.

Solicitors representing the three accused accepted they had a prima facie case to answer.

They were remanded on their own bail of £500 each to appear for arraignment at Derry Crown Court on a date to be fixed.