CRH ‘knew nothing about dumping’

VBOSSES at the cement giants CRH claimed yesterday they knew nothing about illegal dumping on their lands in Co Wicklow until it was investigated by authorities.

Wicklow County Council claimed to have no knowledge of illegal dumping in the county until August 2001, despite receiving complaints back in 1998.

But CRH managing director Tony O’Loghlen was accused of failing to tell the full story from the company’s point of view about the dumping at the 650 acre site in Wicklow.

Appearing at the Dáil environment committee, Mr O’Loghlen said there were likely to be prosecutions arising from dumping in Wicklow and his legal advice had restricted him in what he could say.

“Roadstone Dublin Limited or CRH did not authorise or have knowledge of such illegal dumping on these lands. We take an extremely serious view of this matter, and are very upset it took place. We are determined that the full position is established and that those involved be held suitably accountable,” he said.

But committee chairman Seán Power said Mr O’Loghlen had not enlightened members of committee.

Fine Gael environment spokesman Bernard Allen said it was incredible to believe that dumping took place at the CRH land and nobody knew anything about it.

Wicklow County Council and the Garda National Bureau of Investigations are probing the illegal dumping.

Wicklow County Manager Edward Sheehy said to date sites containing almost 500,000 tonnes of illegal waste had been uncovered.

But this did not include the CRH dump or the 80 other sites being probed in the county.

The dumps contained hazardous hospital waste as well as regular domestic, commercial and building waste.

“From the emerging picture it seems west Wicklow was considered suitable for illegal dumping. We had no knowledge of dumping taking place prior to August 2001,” he said.

However, Mr Sheehy admitted the council was dumping at the CRH site but denied there was any cosy relationship between CRH and the council.