THREE MEN have appeared before a Co Mayo court on charges arising from a Competition Authority investigation into the domestic waste collection business in the county.
Businessmen Declan and Patrick McGrath of McGrath Waste appeared yesterday in Castlebar District Court to answer charges against them for entering into illegal agreements contrary to the Competition Act 2002. The firm itself also faces a charge.
In the same court, another man appeared to answer a charge of aiding and abetting an illegal agreement contrary to the Act.
The charges are that between August 24th and September 2nd, 2005, they entered into an agreement between undertakings which had as its object the prevention, restriction or distortion of competition in the provision of domestic waste collection services in Co Mayo.
The books of evidence in the case were served on the parties by Det Sgt Joe McLoughlin, who is on secondment to the Competition Authority.
The matter is to be sent forward to the Central Criminal Court. Following an investigation by the Competition Authority, the cases are being brought by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Further charges are pending, arising from the investigation.
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