Henry Price Fined £50,000 For Destroying Protected Structure, Moneybroom Lime Kilns
General News
Thursday 11th, January 2024
A 64 year old man from Glenavy Road in Lisburn, Henry Price, has been fined £50,000 for the unauthorised demolition of the Moneybroom Lime Kilns, protected historical monuments dating back to the 1800s. The sentence was pronounced at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday after Price entered a guilty plea in December.
The illegal activity came to light in April 2021 when the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) received reports of building works in the Moneybroom Road area of Lisburn, where the protected lime kiln structures were situated. Upon inspection, officers discovered that the landowner, Henry Price, had leveled the land without obtaining any prior consent, destroying the unique lime kilns that held historical significance.
A PSNI statement outlined the gravity of the offense, stating, "This case demonstrates the close working relationship between police and the Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities, in an effort to protect our heritage and investigate any reports of criminality."
Brian McKervey, acting director of the Historic Environment Division (HED), emphasised the importance of recognising heritage as a finite resource. He stated, "Not only did Moneybroom lime kilns, which date back to the 1800s, provide a unique example of a time when our society was undergoing massive change, they were a reminder of many aspects of our shared heritage, including the industrialisation of our landscape and society."
McKervey acknowledged the pressures faced by scheduled monument owners and highlighted the division's commitment to supporting them while also pursuing prosecutions for damage or destruction of historic monuments when necessary.
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) played a crucial role in the case, carefully considering the evidence before deciding to prosecute Henry Price for the unauthorised destruction of the lime kilns. A spokesperson for the PPS stated, "The PPS will continue to work closely with the Department of Communities Historic Environment Division and other criminal justice partners, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, to prosecute the alleged damaging of a historic monument, where the test for prosecution is met."
Lime burning for agricultural use was a common practice in the 1700s and early 1800s, with the Moneybroom Lime Kilns specifically constructed between 1830 and 1900. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preserving our shared heritage and the legal consequences for those who disregard the protection of historical monuments.
The illegal activity came to light in April 2021 when the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) received reports of building works in the Moneybroom Road area of Lisburn, where the protected lime kiln structures were situated. Upon inspection, officers discovered that the landowner, Henry Price, had leveled the land without obtaining any prior consent, destroying the unique lime kilns that held historical significance.
A PSNI statement outlined the gravity of the offense, stating, "This case demonstrates the close working relationship between police and the Historic Environment Division in the Department for Communities, in an effort to protect our heritage and investigate any reports of criminality."
Brian McKervey, acting director of the Historic Environment Division (HED), emphasised the importance of recognising heritage as a finite resource. He stated, "Not only did Moneybroom lime kilns, which date back to the 1800s, provide a unique example of a time when our society was undergoing massive change, they were a reminder of many aspects of our shared heritage, including the industrialisation of our landscape and society."
McKervey acknowledged the pressures faced by scheduled monument owners and highlighted the division's commitment to supporting them while also pursuing prosecutions for damage or destruction of historic monuments when necessary.
The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) played a crucial role in the case, carefully considering the evidence before deciding to prosecute Henry Price for the unauthorised destruction of the lime kilns. A spokesperson for the PPS stated, "The PPS will continue to work closely with the Department of Communities Historic Environment Division and other criminal justice partners, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, to prosecute the alleged damaging of a historic monument, where the test for prosecution is met."
Lime burning for agricultural use was a common practice in the 1700s and early 1800s, with the Moneybroom Lime Kilns specifically constructed between 1830 and 1900. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of preserving our shared heritage and the legal consequences for those who disregard the protection of historical monuments.
