Truck Drivers Questioned as Part of Illegal Dumping Probe

Gardai investigating cases of illegal dumping in County Wicklow were today questioning current and former local authority truck drivers in a bid to find out the nature of waste disposed of on behalf of the local authority.

It is understood that this latest move has come about following the dramatic claim by a West Wicklow land owner that a percentage of the illegal waste that was discovered on his property was dumped by Wicklow County Council.

Mr. John O'Reilly who owns the land at Whitestown, near the Glen of Imaal, said that the Council dumped 25 truck loads a month on that site from 1979 to 2001.

However, Council management has strenously denied the allegation. Co. Manager, Mr. Eddie Sheehy confirmed recently that he had also received an invoice for over E1 million from Mr. O'Reilly for the use of his property for dumping purposes but described it as a `red herring'.

Management also confirmed recently that the Gardai are now involved in the probed and the general public along with members of the Council have been urged to contact the investigators rather than the media if they are aware of any illegal dumping sites.

The current questioning of lorry drivers is just part of the huge investigation and is not meant to suggest that any of them are guilty.