Man fined €200 for littering with Eflow letter

By Brendan Grehan

LITTERING with an Eflow letter landed a man with a €200 fine in Tallaght Court.

Patrick McDonagh has also been ordered to pay €100 costs to South Dublin County Council.

There was no appearance from McDonagh in court.

McDonagh, with an address at MacUilliam Avenue, Tallaght, was accused of creating litter at MacUilliam Estate in Tallaght on November 28, 2016.

Peter Lynch, a litter warden with South Dublin County Council told Judge Patricia McNamara that he had been on patrol in MacUilliam Estate at 2.20pm on November 28 last when he came upon some litter that had been set on fire.

Examining the litter, he found an Eflow letter addressed to McDonagh. Mr Lynch said he issued a fixed-charge penalty notice and delivered it through McDonagh’s letterbox. He said the fine remained unpaid.

Mr Lynch said McDonagh had no previous convictions.

Convicting, Judge McNamara fined McDonagh €200.

Counsel for SDCC said he was seeking €200 costs which would be payable to the council.

Judge McNamara asked how the costs were calculated.

The counsel said he did not know.

Judge McNamara asked if the costs included VAT. The counsel said they did not. Judge McNamara said: “The local authority does not pay VAT.”

The Counsel said: “The fine goes to the accused”.

Judge McNamara said: “That would be good.”

Judge McNamara ordered that €100 costs be paid to SDCC.