Government papers in illegal dump

THE Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has described as odd the discovery of Department of Justice briefing papers on an illegal dump in the North.

Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy has arranged for an officer to assist the PSNI in its investigation into how the papers, dating from last month, ended up on the landfill site near Omagh in Co Tyrone.

The 34 documents, briefing papers relating to EU Presidency meetings in Sweden and France, were discovered by journalist Anton McCabe following a tip off. Solicitors letters with addresses in Cork and telephone records of a family in Wexford were also found.

"I think this find raises questions about the entire waste business in the Republic of Ireland if even material from government departments, which was handed on to some waste contractors, finds its way to an illegal landfill in Co Tyrone," said Mr McCabe.

Mr McCabe said the reaction of the Department of Justice to his e-mailed questions about the documents was "most strange" four visits from a PSNI officer in just four hours.

When asked for the documents, he refused to hand them over. "The officer made it clear ... pressure was being exerted by the Department of Justice, as a result of an inquiry I made, to take some sort of action against me," he said.

A Department of Justice spokeswoman said officials reported the matter to the Gardaí. She could not confirm they were briefing papers for the Minister but added there were "strict procedures" for the disposal of papers and those procedures will be looked at.

Mr Ahern said he does not know anything about the find but added that Mr McCabe refused to hand over the documents when asked by the PSNI.

A PSNI spokesman said an officer went to have informal chat with Mr McCabe, but made no attempt to retrieve the documents without his consent. Mr McCabe promised the documents will be returned to the Irish authorities.

Organised criminal gangs, possibly with paramilitary connections, are involved in the large-scale and lucrative business of transporting waste into the North. A lack of landfill sites, high charges and a crackdown on illegal dumping here has led to the growth in cross border waste smuggling.

Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan called for a "full and frank" statement from the Minister for Justice about his knowledge of this illegal activity. Mr McDowell responded by saying that dumps in Tyrone were Mr Morgan's responsibility.