Mater regrets illegal waste dumping

The Mater Hospital, Dublin, has said it is "appalled and horrified" that its clinical waste ended up in an illegal dump in Co Wicklow.

The Mater said it paid two separate contractors to remove its waste. The contractors were: Sterile Technologies Ireland, which was contracted to remove "hazardous" waste - and Dublin Waste, contracted to remove "ordinary waste".

The spokeswoman said the hospital wanted to stress "both companies had been fully licensed, recognised companies".

The hospital has recently discontinued its arrangements with Dublin Waste, the principals of which were fined £1,500 for illegal dumping at Dublin Metropolitan District Court last month.

Dublin Waste has acknowledged that a small part of material found at a two-acre site in the Glen of Imaal, five miles from Donard in west Wicklow, may have been disposed of by a driver employed by a sub-contractor. The driver has since been dismissed.

A company spokesman, Mr Louis Moriarty, apologised to the Blackrock Clinic and the Mater Hospital about the incident.

Neither Dublin Waste nor Sterile Technologies Ireland could be contacted for comment yesterday and it is not yet clear what exactly was the nature of the waste it handled. Domestic hospital waste was found, together with body fluid bags, bloody bandages and swabs. The Wicklow county manager, Mr Eddie Sheehy, has said the leachate from the illegal dump contaminated a local river.

The Blackrock Clinic was unable to provide a spokesman last night.

Meanwhile, Mr Frank Corcoran of An Taisce said yesterday the society was determined to see prosecutions in relation to illegal dumping being taken in the higher courts.

"Under the EU Waste Directive the Government brought in provision to fine people up to £10 million (€12.7 million) and send them to jail, which should act as a substantial deterrent against dumping," Mr Corcoran said.

"A lot of people will want to see Wicklow County Council take the appropriate route and not attempt to prosecute anyone in the lower courts where the fine is a maximum of £1,500," he added.

"The level of action the council takes will be the proof of how committed it is, and should the prosecutions be attempted at a lower court An Taisce will make a complaint to the EU."