Gardaí in Ballinasloe are investigating the discovery of a suspect device on the doorstep of an anti-landfill campaigner in east Galway yesterday morning.
The device was found by Mr Pádraig Lohan, chairman of the Kilconnell-Newbridge-Cappataggle anti-dump group outside his house in Kilconnell, Co Galway, yesterday morning.
A note had been pushed through the door wishing him a "happy Christmas", and the device on his doorstep comprised a container wrapped in green tape with wires and lights attached.
Mr Lohan called gardaí, who examined the device and confirmed that it was harmless and a hoax.
However, Mr Tom Finn, spokesman for the anti-dump group, said the incident had shaken Mr Lohan, a dairy farmer with a young family. He said it was the latest in a series of incidents involving "low-level intimidation" of members of the group since they mounted opposition to the location of a private landfill in the east Galway area.
A spokeswoman for Greenstar, the developer of the private landfill dump, said last night it was absolutely horrified that anyone should be targeted in this way. Everyone had a constituional right to object to a development, but they should stay within the confines of the law.
Supt Paul Hargadon of Ballinasloe gardaí said inquiries were being conducted. However, the gardaí had received no complaints before this in relation to intimidation, he said.
Galway County Council recently granted planning permission for a landfill at Kilconnell, which has been appealed to An Bord Pleanála by the anti-dump group and by the local Fianna Fáil TD, Mr Joe Callanan. Also, Galway County Council has identified Cross/New Inn, three miles from Kilconnell, for a new public landfill.