A man who had been given a jail sentence for the unauthorised taking of limestone from the Burren, Co Clare, was successful in his appeal yesterday and had the sentence reduced to a fine.
Mr Christopher Lee, Boston, Tubber, Co Clare, was sentenced at Corofin District Court last September to four months in prison after being convicted of using heavy machinery and lorries to remove the limestone in 1997. He had a four-month jail term reduced to the maximum fine of £1,500 on appeal at Ennis Circuit Court.
Taking Mr Lee's plea of guilty and previous good character into account, Judge Sean O'Leary imposed the maximum fine of £1,500.