Wicklow Co Council to reveal illegal dump details

Wicklow Co Council is due to disclose details about one of the largest illegal dumps found in the east of the country.

Potentially the biggest illegal rubbish dump found in the country is today being investigated by officials in Co Wicklow.

The site thought to stretch across the Wicklow and Kildare border could hold more than 300,000 tonnes of hospital and domestic waste, early indications suggested.

During the past year hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish have been dumped illegally in Co Wicklow.

It is believed the latest find – situated near the town of Blessington – could be larger than the recently discovered Whitestown dump.

Earlier this year between 250,000 and 300,000 tonnes of rubbish, which was contaminated by hospital waste, was found at the Whitestown dump near Baltinglass.

This was previously the largest site of its kind found in the country.

Labour Party spokeswoman on health Liz McManus said the discovery was an extremely serious issue and that it was described in a report by council staff as “by far the biggest dump yet“.

Councillors were briefed on the discovery at a meeting in Wicklow town last night. Investigations were taking place to establish the nature of the find.

Road blocks and mobile patrols have recently been set up by gardai in a bid to catch those responsible for the dumps.