Inspectors of the huge illegal dump in north Coolock had their cars set on fire while they inspected the site, Dublin City Council's Chief Executive has said.
Dublin Live previously revealed the illegal dump that has been enraging residents for over a decade is set to cost €10 million to clean up. Council boss Owen Keegan has now admitted the local authority has no "legal recourse" against those carrying out the dumping because they "can't prove who is doing this".
This is despite DCC and An Garda Siochana launching a year-long surveillance operation which has stopped further dumping on the site. Mr Keegan told Cllrs at a meeting: "We are pretty happy no additional material has been put on the site now for some time."
Read more: Illegal Coolock dump to cost €10 million to clean up under new Council plans
The Council sent specialists out to the site to evaluate the type of waste being dumped. They found "a degree of toxic materials" at the site but some of their cars were burnt out during the inspection.
Mr Keegan said: "We had done a detailed assessment, we had specialists, whose cars by the way were set on fire and completely destroyed while they were on the site. We had a full assessment [done] and there is a degree of toxic materials. We are well aware of that."
The Council boss also conceded those carrying out the dumping will not face any action from DCC. He said: "We have no action against the preparators - that's the reality. As much as we'd like to - we can't prove who is doing this. We don't have any legal recourse, we just have to bear the cost ourselves and try and try and recoup it from two Government Departments."
The clean up of the waste and construction of a "robust" wall to keep the site free of any additional waste is estimated to cost €10 million. Mr Keegan is seeking to recoup this money from the Government but admitted there is no guarantee this will happen.
He said: "I don't know if we will be successful in securing funding. I believe because of the inadequacies of the Waste Management Act and the enforcement provisions, it is not appropriate that the local authority will have to bear the full cost.
"But, we are going to do it anyway. I hope we get funding but there is no guarantee. We will certainly make a strong case to the Department of the Environment."
The perpetrators of the illegal dumping have had their vehicles and licenses confiscated for a period of time which Mr Keegan said is "very unsatisfactory" for the "seriousness" of the dumping.
He said: "We have frequently confiscated vehicles but after a certain period and payment of a modest fine, they have to be given back. We have taken licenses...the whole thing is a very unsatisfactory regime given the seriousness of the activity we are talking about."
The Council boss also admitted to councillors that those carrying out the dumping may dump elsewhere if the operation to shut down the Coolock site is successful. He said: "It may well be the individuals that have been targeting this site, if we put enough pressure and protect this site, it is such a lucrative business they may well seek to identify another site.
"That's not something we can deal with but what we can deal with is the prolonged dumping on this site now stops." He added that those dumping need to face "lengthy" prison terms to stop the practice.
In a letter to all Councillors on the matter, Mr Keegan outlined a three stage plan to stop the dumping, clean up the site and develop social housing. However, in the North Central Area Committee meeting, he could not give any concrete dates as to when the removal of waste will begin.
Independent Cllr John Lyons estimated the removal of the waste will take at least six months to start due to the lengthy tender process.
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