Police pair fined for littering

The on-duty officers had been having a tea-break

Two on-duty police officers have been found guilty of throwing litter from a car after enjoying tea and biscuits from a fast food outlet.

Constables Kim McKee and Donal Adams, with addresses given as care of Newtownabbey PSNI station, were fined £250 each at Belfast Magistrates Court.

Adams was fined a further £100 for smoking in a work vehicle.

The pair were prosecuted over an incident at Sixmilewater car park in Ballyclare in May 2008.

The officers were also both ordered to pay £100 in costs.

Evidence against them was based on accounts of a litter warden and council worker who saw the pair sitting in the car.

Imposing the fines, District Judge Amanda Henderson said: "I'm aware of the consequences these convictions may have on other areas of your professional lives."

McKee and Adams, whose ages were not disclosed, both accepted being there drinking tea and coffee and eating cookies from a Subway food outlet during a break while on duty.

However, they denied allegations that a steaming tea-bag and milk carton was thrown from the police car.

I accept the evidence they provided to the court, that is to the criminal standard. There will be convictions on both matters. District Judge Amanda Henderson

Adams, a smoker, also rejected witness claims that he took a puff from a cigarette before discarding it out the driver's side window.

During the trial, Adams described the allegations against him as "completely untrue".

He told a defence lawyer that he would instruct any colleague he spotted littering to pick it up, or even report it to a senior officer.

"As police officers we are scrutinised enough and we have to be whiter than white," Adams said.

The constable also revealed how he thought it was a joke when he first learned he was to face a charge.

"I just thought it was ludicrous to be honest," he added.

Adams said that he had not considered a fixed penalty payment because it would be seen as an admission of guilt for something he did not do.

McKee was equally adamant she had not littered.

"We drank tea, we drank coffee, but there was no rubbish thrown from the window," she insisted.

'No axe to grind'

However, a barrister for Newtownabbey Borough Council argued the two prosecution witnesses had been clear and cogent.

He added: "Neither of them have ever had any prior dealings with the defendants and for that reason have no axe to grind with either of them."

Backing his assessment, Henderson said she could not find that the witnesses were mistaken about what they saw.

She said: "I accept the evidence they provided to the court, that is to the criminal standard. There will be convictions on both matters."