Councillors debate report on republican fuel smugglers pumping toxic waste into water supply

The IRA was accused of using poison “to murder people in Louth and south Armagh,” during a debate on alleged pollution of the public water supply at a meeting of Louth County Council.

The allegation was made by Richie Culhane (FG), a retired garda, who said that the “same people who murdered Paul Quinn are the same individuals pumping toxins [that are] poisoning people here and in Crossmaglen.”

“This is not just a residue from toxins, it is a residue from the Troubles,” he said on Monday, adding that, “instead of the Armalite, the IRA was “using poison to murder people in Louth and south Armagh.”

Newspaper report

The council suspended standing orders to discuss a report in a Sunday newspaper that said republican fuel smugglers were pumping toxic waste into the water supply. It said the toxic waste was coming from a fuel-smuggling plant and flowing into Lough Muckno, Lough Ross and the river Fane water system, and into the public water supply for Dundalk.

A majority of the councillors supported a motion from John McGahon (FG) condemning “the IRA and all fuel smugglers operating along the Border”. Mr McGahon, a nephew of former TD Brendan McGahon, said “over the last 50 years, republicans and the IRA had no regard for the public’s life, so why would they have regard for public health?”

Amendment proposed

Sinn Féin councillor Edel Corrigan had proposed an amendment to his motion which instead condemned “all fuel launderers and those dumping toxic sludge in this county and through the country.” It was not passed.

Standing orders were suspended by Declan Breathnach (FF), who said the integrity of the water supply "is paramount" and that while the figures of dumped toxic sludge were reducing, "people are finding different ways to dispose of it."

He asked that Irish Water and the Environmental Protection Agency provide "a comprehensive report" on the water supply relative to Lough Muckno, the Fane river and how it affected local people.

Mark Dearey (Green Party) said: “I think we need the tap water checked and checked quickly . . . boil notices will not do it. This couldn’t be more serious.”

Diesel laundering

He said that in relation to diesel laundering along the Border, “there is a view out there of light-touch policing because of the peace process.” It was time for straight talking and “it will be seen as a failure of local politics and policing if this is true”.

Sinn Féin’s Tomás Sharkey said he had contacted journalist Jim Cusack and asked if the water samples featured in the story could be made available to the council.

According to the council's director of services Frank Pentony, tests on the water found "no issue" in 2014 and "we assure council members the water supply to Dundalk is safe".

The council confirmed its contractors were dealing with the dumping of 3,000 litres of toxic waste at Faughart and 1,000 litres at nearby St Bridget’s Shrine.