Rail staff sold toxic sleepers to market

A FULL public inquiry has been called for into how staff at Irish Rail managed illegally to sell toxic railway sleepers into the domestic garden market.

The sleepers were sold by some rail staff carrying out renovation work at a former rail depot in Dublin. During 2006, a truck transporting the sleepers, which contain chemicals scientifically linked to skin cancer, was stopped by gardaí and it was discovered that the sale of sleepers by staff “was a continual and ongoing event”.

Labour TD Joe Costello said the illegal sale of sleepers was extremely serious, considering the use of sleepers in domestic gardens has been banned by the EU due to the link between materials they contain and cancer.

“The problems associated with this incident have far-reaching ramifications. An inquiry must uncover where these materials ended up.”

It has also emerged that, after being initially sacked, the ringleader of the scam was subsequently reinstated by the company. As part of his reinstatement it is believed he paid €100,000 to the national rail company.

The man has since been dismissed again with his appeal against his second dismissal concluding last week.

A spokesman for Irish Rail said “he stole materials for personal gain” and “has been dismissed twice”.

“All aspects of the illegal sale of sleepers was fully investigated, and the three individuals involved were dismissed. Management ensured these issues were investigated and the gardaí were informed.”