A Co Armagh man has been fined thousands of pounds for damaging a protected habitat on his land.

Derek Johnston of 82D Carrickasticken Road, Forkhill, was fined £3,400 (€4,007) on Monday at Newry Magistrates’ Court for breaches of environment order legislation.

His land was investigated on five separate occasions over the course of almost two years from 5 October 2012 to 15 July 2014.

Each time, Northern Ireland Environment Agency officers observed unauthorised works which resulted in substantial damage to the protected habitat.

Charges

The land is located within the Slieve Gullion Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and Slieve Gullion Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Burning, spraying and mechanical removal of vegetation caused the destruction of 12.5ha of priority dry heath habitat on land owned by Derek Johnston, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Charges brought against Derek Johnston related to destroying or damaging flora or fauna in an ASSI and carrying out work in an ASSI without permission.

DAERA said the loss of habitat occurred within a scenic landscape of the Ring of Gullion and is highly prevalent on this scenic drive.

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