O’Dowd hits out at Adams over water claims

Fergus O’Dowd

Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd has hit out at his constituency rival Gerry Adams over the Sinn Féin president’s claim last week that there was nothing wrong with the quality of water in the Dundalk area.

Last weekend the Sunday Independent published a report claiming that Lough Muckno, Lough Ross and the River Fane, which supplies Dundalk’s water supply, were being contaminated by IRA fuel launderers whose toxic waste was getting into the water.

While officials at Louth County Council insisted last Monday that as far as they were concerned the water was safe, the Sunday Independent reiterated their report again yesterday by saying that further test results on Friday had shown that water fuel and chemicals pumped into the public water system are “extremely toxic” with one sample found to contain 103.8 toxic units.

Regulations covering pollution discharge into the non-drinking water systems put limits as low as one toxic unit – and there should be none in discharge into the public water system.

On Friday Deputy Adams issued a statement saying the water was safe that accused some local politicians of making “irresponsible claims” that it was not, something he said could affect both tourism and business in the county.

However, commenting in the Sunday Independent yesterday, Fine Gael’s Fergus O’Dowd challenged Deputy Adams to drink the contaminated water.

He said: “If we are to believe Adams, it will do him no harm!

“There can be no forgiveness North and South for this dangerous criminal activity that puts our health at risk,” said O’Dowd, “and any denial of the health impact of carcinogenic pollution of this nature from any Dail member is disgraceful and shameful.”

Local Fine Gael councillor John McGahon also hit out at Sinn Féin for failing to accept that the IRA was poisoning the water system. He told the paper he was “disgusted” at the party.

Toxic diesel sludge discovered dumped at Ballykelly

Three containers of diesel sludge have been found dumped at the ESB substation at Ballykelly on the Carrickmacross-Dundalk Road, close to Louth Village.

Louth County Council were notified of the discovery this morning, with experts on site shortly afterwards to deal with the problem.

This is the 19^th time so far this year that toxic fuel waste has been found dumped at various locations around the country.

Around 50,000 litres has had to be disposed of so far with 28,000 litres of this being dumped at the ESB substation at Ballykelly. People in this area are asked to be vigilant of people dumping items here as so far the cost of disposing of the sludge has cost Louth County Council €45,000.

Diesel laundering waste dumped at Ballykelly

A large dumping of diesel laundering waste was discovered on the Louth and Monaghan border earlier today.

3,000 litres of diesel sludge was discovered illegally dumped at Ballykelly –  near to Louth Village and Stonetown.

This is the second dumping of fuel waste this month after two cubes of diesel laundering sludge were at dumped at St Brigid’s Shrine on February 1st.

Louth County Council are dealing with the disposal of the waste but at great cost to the taxpayer.

Diesel laundering waste dumped at St Brigid’s Shrine in Faughart

It hasn’t been a happy St Brigid’s Day for the people of Faughart and Louth County Council after two cubes of diesel laundering sludge were at St Brigid’s Shrine on this her feast day.

The discovery was made in the grounds of the car park at the shrine with council officials on site dealing with the matter. This is one of a number of fuel waste dumps that have been discovered in the area in the first few weeks of the year.

Meanwhile, The Fairgreen, Inner Relief Road, Blackrock village and The Loakers were all closed due to flooding this afternoon.

Diesel sludge at Balriggan to be disposed of

Louth County Council are currently recovering and disposing of toxic diesel sludge that was discovered at Balriggan, just outside Dundalk, yesterday.

The local authority has moved quickly to deal with the find after receiving a report of two IBC containers full of the toxic material. They quickly mobilised their contractor to deal with the problem and expect to have it cleaned up shortly.

Oil laundering waste dumped in Inniskeen

A large quantity of oil laundering waste has been illegally dumped in Inniskeen.

The discovery at Gorteen is currently being dealt with by Louth County Council.

It is reported that two large plastic cubes containing approximately 2,000 litres of toxic material, have been found at the site, which is located just off the N53 and right along the Monaghan border.

This is the first case of illegal fuel dumping discovered this year. Last year there were 103 dumping incidents in the county, which cost the local authority €686,000.