A 28-year-old man, who admitted dumping over 1,000 tyres in an environmentally sensitive area, has been given a two-year suspended prison sentence and fined €1500.
The court was told that the defendant was charging €1 per tyre to get rid of them.
Judge Patrick Moran told Timmy Gleeson, of Cappamore, Co Limerick, that what he did was a very serious matter for the environment.
Gleeson had pleaded guilty to three charges under the Waste Management Act.
Describing Gleeson as chastened and contrite, his lawyer told the court that his client accepted what he did was against the law, was very anti-social and a selfish activity.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard how inspectors from Cork County Council discovered over 1,000 tyres in a Coilte forest at Millenduff, Rockchapel in north Cork.
The tyres were found in October 2008 following a complaint from a member of the public.
The Coilte-owned forest is a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive and of special conservation interest for the hen harrier.
Almost a third of the country's hen harriers can be found there.
Inspector Stephen O'Sullivan explained how they traced some of the tyres to a company in Limerick, which in turn led to them identifying Gleeson.
Speaking afterwards, Nick Bond of Cork County Council said that the case sends a clear signal that crimes of this nature will not be tolerated by Cork County Council and will be investigated fully by its Waste Enforcement staff.
