Worker suspended after post bag found

An Post has suspended an employee following the discovery of a large quantity of mail in a ditch in Co Meath.

The postbag contained more than 1,000 items, including letters relating to the recent Meath by-election.

The discovery was made by a local resident at the weekend.

An Post said the collection was about two months old and contained many letters relating to the by-election. They comprised canvassing literature from a number of political parties who had candidates running.

An Post has initiated an inquiry and one employee has been suspended pending its outcome.

"It's very rare that some thing like this happens and we're taking it very seriously," a spokeswoman for An Post said. "People entrust us to deliver the mail and we do it very well."

The bag also contained some promotional mail from direct marketing companies which have accounts with An Post.