Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20774Environmental offences (waste crime) · Co. Kildare

Former waste company director jailed over Kerdiffstown landfill offences

Tony Dean, a 70-year-old man of Woodhaven, Milltown, Dublin, who owned Dean Waste Management Ltd, was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in November 2022 of breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare, between October 2003 and November 2008. The case followed an investigation by the EPA and An Garda Siochana that spanned almost 20 years. On 9 June 2023 Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years, with the final 12 months suspended and all sentences running concurrently. That sentence is the latest development in the case.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced9 Jun
    4 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Tony Dean, a 70-year-old man, was found guilty of two breaches of a waste management licence.
  • Dean was also found guilty of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution.
Where
  • The offences took place at a site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare, described as 25 acres in one report and 10 hectares in another.
  • Waste at the Kerdiffstown landfill reached 116 metres in height.
When
The offences were committed between October 2003 and November 2008.
Cause
  • The judge said the landfill was accepting more waste than it could manage and that the motivation was financial.
  • The prosecution case was that Dean was negligent rather than that he connived or consented to the offences.
  • The waste contaminated the air and groundwater.
Investigation
  • EPA audits and inspections between 2003 and 2008 identified a growing mound of waste that contravened the licence terms.
  • The conviction followed an investigation by the EPA and An Garda Siochana spanning almost 20 years.
Charges
Dean pleaded not guilty to the three charges and was found guilty by a jury in November 2022.
In court
The sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday 9 June 2023.
Sentence
  • Judge Melanie Greally set a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years, with the final 12 months suspended on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour.
  • One report says Dean was sentenced to three years on each of three charges, with all sentences running concurrently.
Other details
  • The judge noted that €61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site, and the case resulted in a public clean-up bill of almost €61 million.
  • The judge took into account mitigating factors including Dean's poor health and low risk of reoffending.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatTony Dean was found guilty last November of two breaches of a waste management licence. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatDean was also found guilty of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatA jury found Tony Dean guilty of two breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at a 25-acre site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • whereThe offences took place at a 10-hectare site at Kerdiffstown, Naas, Co Kildare. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe waste at the Kerdiffstown landfill site in Naas, Co Kildare, reached 116 metres in height. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whenThe offences were committed between October 2003 and November 2008. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • whenThe offences took place between October 2003 and November 2008. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe licence breaches occurred between October 1, 2003 and November 25, 2008. (irishmirror.ie)
  • causeThe judge said the landfill was accepting more waste than it could manage at that time, and that the motivation was financial. (thejournal.ie)
  • causeThe judge said the motivation for the breaches was financial. (kildarenow.com)
  • causeThe prosecution case was that Dean was negligent rather than that he connived or consented to the offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeThe waste contaminated the air and groundwater. (irishmirror.ie)
  • investigationEPA audits and inspections between 2003 and 2008 identified a growing mound of waste that contravened the terms of the licence. (kildarenow.com)
  • investigationEnvironmental Protection Agency audits and inspections between 2003 and 2008 identified a growing mound of waste that contravened the licence terms. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe conviction followed an investigation by the EPA and An Garda Siochana spanning almost 20 years. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDean pleaded not guilty to the three charges. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com, irishtimes.com)
  • chargeDean was found guilty by a jury of two breaches of a waste management licence and of holding or recovering waste in a manner likely to cause environmental pollution. (kildarenow.com)
  • chargeDean was found guilty in November 2022 of breaching an EPA licence. (irishmirror.ie)
  • chargeDean was also convicted of holding, transporting, recovering or disposing of waste in a manner that caused or was likely to cause environmental pollution. (irishmirror.ie)
  • courtThe sentence was imposed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe judge said the breaches had a significant environmental impact. (kildarenow.com, irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge said the landfill was accepting more waste than it could manage and that the motivation was financial. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Melanie Greally handed Dean a three-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on condition that he keep the peace and be of good behaviour. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years, with the final 12 months suspended, and all sentences to run concurrently. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Greally handed Dean a three-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceA headline sentence of four years on each charge was reduced to three years, with the final 12 months suspended. (kildarenow.com)
  • sentenceJudge Melanie Greally handed Dean a three-year sentence, with the final 12 months suspended on condition he keep the peace and be of good behaviour. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of four years on each charge, reduced to three years with the final 12 months suspended, with all sentences to run concurrently. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceDean was sentenced to three years on each of three charges. (irishmirror.ie)
  • sentenceThe three sentences will run concurrently, with the final 12 months suspended. (irishmirror.ie)
  • otherThe judge noted that €61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site. (thejournal.ie, kildarenow.com)
  • otherThe facility ceased trading in 2010. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherA major fire broke out at the site in February 2011. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherDean's solicitor said his client had hired a former EPA employee to advise him. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherThe judge took into account mitigating factors including Dean's poor health and low risk of reoffending. (irishtimes.com)
  • other€61.5 million of public money was spent to remediate the site. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe case resulted in a public clean-up bill of almost €61 million. (irishmirror.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 9 Jun2023
    Sentencedirishmirror.ie, first report
    Pensioner jailed over 'serious environmental offences' at Kildare landfill site

    Reports Tony Dean's sentencing to three years on each of three charges, with the final 12 months suspended, after a conviction in November 2022, and the EPA's response.

    convicted, Tony Dean, 70, named, irish (judged from name)Tony Dean
  2. 9 Jun2023
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Former waste company owner jailed over ‘significant environmental impact’ of breaches at landfill

    Reports the sentencing of Tony Dean after a jury verdict at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, including the sentence length, the suspended portion, the judge's reasons and mitigation. The offences ran from October 2003 to November 2008, so no single incident date applies.

    convicted, Tony Dean, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tony Dean
  3. 9 Jun2023
    Sentencedkildarenow.com, follow-up
    Man (70) jailed for waste management breaches at Kildare landfill site

    Sentencing report for a Kerdiffstown, Naas case, with details of the offences, the sentence and the remediation costs. No existing case matches.

    convicted, Tony Dean, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tony Dean
  4. 9 Jun2023
    Sentencedthejournal.ie, follow-up
    Retired waste management company owner jailed for three years over landfill breaches

    Reports the sentence: three years with the final 12 months suspended, all sentences concurrent. Adds the judge's reasoning, mitigation, the €61.5 million public cost of remediation, and Dean's background, including a 2009 guilty plea and a 2006 conviction.

    convicted, Tony Dean, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Tony Dean