Step-up in anti-incinerator campaign urged

GREEN MEP Patricia McKenna has urged communities to step up their opposition to incinerators after plans to build a facility in Tipperary were scrapped.

The National By-Products company intended to build a meat and bonemeal incinerator in Rosegreen, south Tipperary, but the move was opposed by leading sports and business personalities.

Racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien threatened to move the famous Ballydoyle stables abroad and the John Magnier-owned Coolmore Stud also planned to scale down its operation if the incinerator was built.

Earlier this week, National By-Products/Ronan Industries, owned by the Clonmel-based Ronan brothers, withdrew plans to build the incinerator.

Ms McKenna last night said she feared there will be moves to build an incinerator elsewhere.

“I’m frightened that the Government or big businesses will target the weaker areas where people won’t have the financial resources to oppose them,” she said.

“We believed there was no need for incinerators here and the opposition arguments in Tipperary apply everywhere.”

Ronan Industries consistently said the campaign against the incinerator was based on “scaremongering” and “misinformation”.

The opposition campaign was backed by Kerry Group boss Denis Brosnan, Senator Martin Mansergh and Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson.

A total of 120 vets and 37 GPs in the region also opposed to the incinerator.

Aidan O’Brien yesterday welcomed the Ronans’ decision.

“We are delighted to learn that Ronan Industries has taken this step. The Ronan family is to be congratulated on this decision, which will help restore harmony in this close-knit and vibrant community,” Aidan O’Brien said.

“We are sorry if the Ronan family felt personally targeted during a campaign which was intense and at times heated,” he said.

Another court action that Coolmore and Ballydoyle were taking against National By-Products was dropped in what Mr O’Brien described as the “spirit of co-operation and goodwill which has now been re-established”. The South Tipperary Anti-incinerator Campaign (STAIC) insisted last night they don’t want to see a meat and bonemeal burner built anywhere in the county.

“The past 11 months have been very long and difficult ones for everyone in the locality and we are absolutely thrilled that National By-Products has listened to the community’s concerns.

“We have put a huge amount of time and energy into researching this topic and are as convinced as ever that meat and bonemeal incineration is not necessary in Ireland,” STAIC chairman Séamus Hayes said.

The Department of Agriculture, the Food Safety Authority, and the IFA have previously said there was a need for at least one meat and bonemeal incinerator here.