Eric Hyde, from Newtownhamilton in County Armagh, was given the sentence at Newry Crown Court after pleading guilty to two offences. He was also given a confiscation order for £100,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

In 2003, officials from Armagh City and District Council informed the local Environment and Heritage Service that they suspected illegal dumping was taking place at View Point Road in the small village of Newtownhamilton.

During subsequent investigation, Mr Hyde was spotted driving a bulldozer on a site which was thought to be an illegal dump.

Officers also took a sample of the liquid that was draining from the suspected tipping site. It was found that this was highly polluting in nature and that it was flowing into a nearby stream.

In a later survey, it was discovered that household waste from Wicklow, Wexford, Donegal and Cork and construction and demolition waste had been added at the site and that Mr Hyde had no waste management licence.

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