A construction firm that illegally destroyed bat roosts after demolishing buildings in Gwynedd without permission has been fined.

Lancashire based FI Real Estate Management (FIREM) of Chorley, appeared at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on 1 April.

At a previous hearing on 8 January, the firm admitted a charge of destroying a wild animal shelter.

The offences breached the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

The firm was fined £40,000 and ordered to pay within three months.

A police investigation was launched into the incident at the end of 2024, after Gwynedd Council’s Planning Department reported buildings on the Peblig Industrial Estate in Caernarfon had been demolished without authorisation.

FIREM said the building contained asbestos and was targeted repeatedly by trespassing children, posing significant risk to human life, there was no evidence to suggest bats were in the building when demolished, the demolition took place outside the bat hibernation season, and no bats were harmed during demolition.

FIREM erected a bat mitigation house on site before demolition work, and it remains in use by bats.

The developer acted on health and safety grounds to prevent harm and danger to human life.

A FIREM spokesperson said: “Between January 1, 2024, and September 5, 2024, there were at least eight incidents of trespass or suspicious activity on the site.“

On September 5 alone, there were three separate incidents, while on May 20 there were reports of eight youths running towards the derelict buildings, with one seen throwing stones

“On each occasion, we reported the incidents to the police, who unfortunately were not always able to attend.

“Once it became clear children were accessing a dangerous structure, we had to step in.

“We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and regret this unfortunately led to a breach of the law, but safety must come first.”