Cllr. Frankie Keena said this week that the illegal disposal of litter in Annagortha Bog is a total disgrace. The individual who drove into this bog last Saturday night with a lorry to dump this waste illegally needs to be identified and severely fined and sent to prison. I am completely furious with what I saw. I received phone calls from some locals in the area who equally share my annoyance and anger, as this is a blatant abuse of our countryside and this lovely amenity where people like to have leisurely walks, he said.
This commercial waste mainly consists of cable sheating that would have originated from a building site or else someone who strips the cable for copper. More than likely it is the second option as every bit of copper is taken out, he added.I have arranged for the County Council’s litter warden to examine the waste to try and identify ownership and also the matter has been reported to the Gardai. Someone must have noticed a lorry or large van entering or exiting this bog last Saturday night and I would appeal to anyone to contact me or the Gardai with any information, he added. I have also urged Westmeath County Council and the Gardai to use every opportunity open to them to find this culprit and serve the full force of the law on him.
The fines for the illegal disposal of commercial waste are very high and also the individual could get a two year prison sentence, he said. Similar deposits of illegal dumping took place in this and surrounding bogs in the past where a trail was identified to an individual in Longford, but to actually get the evidence is difficult. Also the source of the material came from a company in Galway. I will be requesting the Gardai and Council officials to examine this material to see if there is a connection with previous deposits.
People in the area are rightly annoyed and angry as they have put in a lot of voluntary days cleaning this area. The message needs to go out there loud and clear that this area is being closely watched by both residents and myself and the day or hour will come when I will catch them, concluded Cllr. Keena.
