More suspected hospital waste found in Co Wicklow

Another discovery of suspected hospital waste was made in Co Wicklow last night.

The find was made at an old quarry at Whitestown, about five miles from Baltinglass, in west Wicklow, not far from Donard, where a find was made some weeks ago.

The quarry was immediately sealed off and bio-hazard signs were put in place advising the public to keep away. Initial reports suggested there was more waste found this time than in Donard. As the area was being sealed off last night, eye-witnesses claimed the waste included body fluid bags, dirty bandages and swabs, as well as hospital "sharps" such as blades, syringes and scissors.

The discovery comes as Wicklow County Council is taking legal advice on a prosecution against a number of unnamed individuals and corporate bodies over the initial discovery, on land at Coolamadra.

However, the council's handling of the affair has already led to heated exchanges between members of the council and staff, over the amount of information on dumping which was revealed to them by the officials.

The Labour Councillor for West Wicklow, Mr Tommy Cullen, said that, as far back as last September, members were given a list of 96 sites in the county where the council was aware of unauthorised dumping.

One of the sites identified was the Coolamadra land. In its report to councillors, officials claimed a Section 55 notice had been served on the land-owner. Councillors later discovered that this was not the case, a fact later acknowledged by council staff.

While officials explained it had been their intention to serve such a notice, the discovery in late October of hospital waste on the land changed the situation.

The council has said little officially about the issue, saying it doesn't want to jeopardise any pending court case, and refusing to confirm the identity of the hospitals, the haulier, the landowner or the waste company involved.

Last night Mr Frank Corcoran, a law lecturer and spokesman for An Taisce, called for any impending prosecution to take place in the higher courts.

"The fact is that with fines in the district court at a maximum of £1,500, it makes economic sense to dump illegally. It is time the prosecutions were taken in courts where the maximum fine is £10 million."

Mr Corcoran said An Taisce was concerned for some time that "human health was compromised. Can the Environmental Protection Agency tell us that traces of pathogens have not found their way into the water supply?

"How assured can we be that other waste is not missing from its intended destination and in a hole in the ground near us?" he asked.

A spokesman for Wicklow County Council last night refused to identify the location of the discovery.

He said the area had been cordoned off and would be investigated this morning. He said no other agencies had as yet been called in by the council.