Multi-million euro operation to clean illegal dump starts after decades of complaints
Illegal dump in residential area is finally being cleaned up... 19 YEARS after locals complained about the dangerous eyesore close to their homes
The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses
The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses
The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses
A digger at the site at Belcamp in Dublin
A multi-million euro operation to clean up a huge illegal dump just metres from the homes of disgusted residents has started after decades of complaints.
In 2012, the Sunday World highlighted how criminal gangs were suspected of being behind the waste collection racket making millions from the site at Darndale in north Dublin.
Photographs taken from a helicopter at the time show the huge scale of the dump, which continued to mount for years afterwards.
Local resident and campaigner Annette Flanagan this week said people had been complaining to Dublin City Council for 19 years, but little action had been taken.
Contractors moved in to begin work on the site on April 29, finally starting the long-awaited clean-up.
A council spokesperson said the operation is expected to cost between €6 million and €8 million and there are no plans for action against anyone responsible for it.
Annette told the Sunday World: 'I've fought this for 19 years and no-one cared. Every single week it should have been in the papers, it should have been on the radio.'
'Nobody had our back around here, not one person, no TDs, 19 years I'm fighting this.
'DCC is our landlord at the end of the day, and we should never have been living metres from an illegal landfill.
'There's a lot of people, an awful lot of people, who died around here, we can't prove that it's anything to do with the landfill. We'll never prove that,' she added.
'The people that died had lung cancer, breast cancer and DCC did not give two s***s. They just kept constantly kicking that can down the road, they didn't care.'
The turning point came when an environmental solicitor at Community Law & Mediation launched a legal bid to force the council to take action.
'We had to live around here and live beside that, which was embarrassing, disgusting — fires every night,' said Annette.
The illegal dump near Belcamp in Coolock, Dublin
Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025
'At the end of the day, I blame DCC for the whole lot of it.
'Eventually I was taking them to court, but on the 29th of April, all of a sudden, they got started.'
Annette said the important thing now is to get moving on putting out tenders to redevelop the site and not wait another 19 years.
Residents have suggested the council should build facilities such as a sensory garden, allotments, an all-weather pitch and a playground.
'It was a long fight to get it done, let me tell you, for the people around here. People were just so depressed. To look out your door every morning or your window and look at seven stories high is a holy disgrace,' said Annette.
'It's getting done now, but it should have never happened.'
There are concerns about what might be unearthed from industrial and household waste.
Community Law & Mediation welcomed the start of work to remove the landfill, which was a 'serious health and environmental hazard.' 'We remain prepared to take further action as necessary to ensure that the site is fully and safely cleared and that the community's rights are protected,' said a spokesperson.
Asbestos has previously been found at the dump, which is estimated to hold 40,000 tons of commercial and domestic waste and is infested with rats.
The clean-up operation is expected to take up to four months.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
2 hours ago
- Sunday World
Murder of Scottish gangsters in Spain could drag Kinahan Cartel into new mob war
Fears that double killing could signal Irish gangsters' involvement in new mob war The pair, who were shot dead in an attack at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol eight days ago, were key figures in the Glasgow-based Lyons crime gang. The Lyons mob formed a close alliance with the Kinahan Cartel through Eddie Jnr's brother, Stephen, who previously lived in Spain and now resides in Dubai, and were suspected of helping the Kinahans coordinate the shipment of €157million of cocaine on board the MV Matthews. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP and former crime journalist Russell Findlay yesterday told the Sunday World a major concern for StephenLyons at this moment is whether the Kinahans may have, in fact, sanctioned the hit. The scene at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol where Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were gunned down 'We already know the Kinahans' involvement in the Scottish drug trade is significant,' he said. 'Their connections with the Lyons have fuelled gangland violence in Scotland and escalated it over the years. 'In the paranoid world of organised crime, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of speculation, but what I suppose this boils down to, is either the Kinahans have had a hand in these murders due to some unknown internal fallout or they have seen two of their allies gunned down in cold blood. 'If it is the latter, then the expectation would be there will be some kind of retribution. 'If I was in Stephen Lyons' shoes, living my luxury air-conditioned lifestyle in Dubai, I would be seeking a meeting with the Kinahans at the earliest possible opportunity to work out who has been responsible for this. . 'But the real fear now is this will only fuel gangland violence, not just in Spain, but also in the streets of Scotland.' In the immediate aftermath of the double assassination at Monaghan's bar, speculation immediately connected the killings to a feud between the Lyons and the rival Daniel gang in Scotland. An escalation in that feud has resulted in assaults, shootings and fire-bombings across Glasgow and Edinburgh in recent months. However, a Lyons family member subsequently discounted this theory, while a statement by Police Scotland said there is 'nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland'. Ross Monaghan Spanish police are instead understood to be focussed on the likelihood the murders are linked to wider gangland tensions – and are making inquiries to determine what if any stance the Kinahans had taken on the killings. Lyons (46), and Monaghan (43) died when a gunman opened fire on them in the Fuengirola bar – where the pair had watched the Champions League final, at about 11pm on the night of the killings.# The gunman then fled the scene in a car. Sources say the Daniel gang had shied away from making any moves against the Lyons in Spain due to their connections with the Kinahan mob and believe it unlikely their attitude would have changed sufficiently for involvement in the double killing likely. Outlining the background to the Kinahan's alliance with the Lyons and the effect this had on their feud with the Daniel gang, our source referred to a triple shooting in Scotland that occurred at an MOT station in the Lambhill area of the city in 2006. Gangsters Eddie Lyons Jnr In that shooting, Stephen Lyons was badly wounded, as was his associate Robert Pickett, while Stephen's cousin Michael Lyons was shot dead. A source said: 'Going way back, there was a triple shooting in Glasgow at an MOT station, Stephen was shot, his cousin Michael was murdered, and a third man Pickett was shot. backlash 'That resulted in Stephen fleeing to Spain. And it was that, fleeing to Spain, that was either the catalyst for the Kinahan connection being made or that made it bigger than it had already been. 'At that point, some Daniel gang-related associate was in the Costa del Sol and ascertained the Lyons were close to the Kinahans and took the view that they could not make a move on them in Spain. 'They could not make a move against Stephen in Spain. Russell Findlay 'So, if the Daniel gang took the view that was too big a move or that the backlash would be too big back then, it would be consistent with them not having the wherewithal to do it now.' The source said Stephen Lyons is the only member remaining out of the youth gang from which he, Michael and Eddie Jnr emerged. 'The rest are either dead or in prison,' he said. Asked if Stephen Lyons has anything to fear from his long-term allies, the Kinahans, the source responded: 'These people have absolutely no qualms about putting a knife between the shoulder blades of their best friends if it suits them. 'There's no loyalty and there's a paranoia that envelopes everything they do. So, it would be premature to assume the Kinahans are on a war footing over this to avenge the Lyons murders when for all we know they could have been responsible for it.' In their statement released on Tuesday, Police Scotland said they were not directly investigating the double murder. Instead they said: 'The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police,' it said. 'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested; however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain. 'There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge. 'Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country.'
Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
Multi-million euro operation to clean illegal dump starts after decades of complaints
Illegal dump in residential area is finally being cleaned up... 19 YEARS after locals complained about the dangerous eyesore close to their homes The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses The illegal dump was situated just metres from people's houses A digger at the site at Belcamp in Dublin A multi-million euro operation to clean up a huge illegal dump just metres from the homes of disgusted residents has started after decades of complaints. In 2012, the Sunday World highlighted how criminal gangs were suspected of being behind the waste collection racket making millions from the site at Darndale in north Dublin. Photographs taken from a helicopter at the time show the huge scale of the dump, which continued to mount for years afterwards. Local resident and campaigner Annette Flanagan this week said people had been complaining to Dublin City Council for 19 years, but little action had been taken. Contractors moved in to begin work on the site on April 29, finally starting the long-awaited clean-up. A council spokesperson said the operation is expected to cost between €6 million and €8 million and there are no plans for action against anyone responsible for it. Annette told the Sunday World: 'I've fought this for 19 years and no-one cared. Every single week it should have been in the papers, it should have been on the radio.' 'Nobody had our back around here, not one person, no TDs, 19 years I'm fighting this. 'DCC is our landlord at the end of the day, and we should never have been living metres from an illegal landfill. 'There's a lot of people, an awful lot of people, who died around here, we can't prove that it's anything to do with the landfill. We'll never prove that,' she added. 'The people that died had lung cancer, breast cancer and DCC did not give two s***s. They just kept constantly kicking that can down the road, they didn't care.' The turning point came when an environmental solicitor at Community Law & Mediation launched a legal bid to force the council to take action. 'We had to live around here and live beside that, which was embarrassing, disgusting — fires every night,' said Annette. The illegal dump near Belcamp in Coolock, Dublin Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025 'At the end of the day, I blame DCC for the whole lot of it. 'Eventually I was taking them to court, but on the 29th of April, all of a sudden, they got started.' Annette said the important thing now is to get moving on putting out tenders to redevelop the site and not wait another 19 years. Residents have suggested the council should build facilities such as a sensory garden, allotments, an all-weather pitch and a playground. 'It was a long fight to get it done, let me tell you, for the people around here. People were just so depressed. To look out your door every morning or your window and look at seven stories high is a holy disgrace,' said Annette. 'It's getting done now, but it should have never happened.' There are concerns about what might be unearthed from industrial and household waste. Community Law & Mediation welcomed the start of work to remove the landfill, which was a 'serious health and environmental hazard.' 'We remain prepared to take further action as necessary to ensure that the site is fully and safely cleared and that the community's rights are protected,' said a spokesperson. Asbestos has previously been found at the dump, which is estimated to hold 40,000 tons of commercial and domestic waste and is infested with rats. The clean-up operation is expected to take up to four months.
Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
Murdered Scottish gangsters linked to Kinahan Cartel's €157m cocaine shipment
Fears that double killing could signal Irish gangsters' involvement in new mob war The pair, who were shot dead in an attack at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol eight days ago, were key figures in the Glasgow-based Lyons crime gang. Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP and former crime journalist Russell Findlay yesterday told the Sunday World a major concern for Stephen Lyons at this moment is whether the Kinahans may have, in fact, sanctioned the hit. The scene at Monaghan's pub in Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol where Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were gunned down . 'We already know the Kinahans' involvement in the Scottish drug trade is significant,' he said. 'Their connections with the Lyons have fuelled gangland violence in Scotland and escalated it over the years. 'In the paranoid world of organised crime, there is a lot of smoke and mirrors, a lot of speculation, but what I suppose this boils down to, is either the Kinahans have had a hand in these murders due to some unknown internal fallout or they have seen two of their allies gunned down in cold blood. 'If it is the latter, then the expectation would be there will be some kind of retribution. 'If I was in Stephen Lyons' shoes, living my luxury air-conditioned lifestyle in Dubai, I would be seeking a meeting with the Kinahans at the earliest possible opportunity to work out who has been responsible for this. Gangsters Eddie Lyons Jnr 'But the real fear now is this will only fuel gangland violence, not just in Spain, but also in the streets of Scotland.' In the immediate aftermath of the double assassination at Monaghan's bar, speculation immediately connected the killings to a feud between the Lyons and the rival Daniel gang in Scotland. An escalation in that feud has resulted in assaults, shootings and fire-bombings across Glasgow and Edinburgh in recent months. Cartel boss Daniel Kinahan Today's News in 90 Seconds - 08 June 2025 However, a Lyons family member subsequently discounted this theory, while a statement by Police Scotland said there is 'nothing to suggest that the shooting in Fuengirola was planned from within Scotland'. Spanish police are instead understood to be focussed on the likelihood the murders are linked to wider gangland tensions – and are making inquiries to determine what if any stance the Kinahans had taken on the killings. Ross Monaghan Lyons (46), and Monaghan (43) died when a gunman opened fire on them in the Fuengirola bar – where the pair had watched the Champions League final, at about 11pm on the night of the killings. The gunman then fled the scene in a car. Sources say the Daniel gang had shied away from making any moves against the Lyons in Spain due to their connections with the Kinahan mob and believe it unlikely their attitude would have changed sufficiently for involvement in the double killing likely. Outlining the background to the Kinahan's alliance with the Lyons and the effect this had on their feud with the Daniel gang, our source referred to a triple shooting in Scotland that occurred at an MOT station in the Lambhill area of the city in 2006. In that shooting, Stephen Lyons was badly wounded, as was his associate Robert Pickett, while Stephen's cousin Michael Lyons was shot dead. A source said: 'Going way back, there was a triple shooting in Glasgow at an MOT station, Stephen was shot, his cousin Michael was murdered, and a third man Pickett was shot. 'That resulted in Stephen fleeing to Spain. And it was that, fleeing to Spain, that was either the catalyst for the Kinahan connection being made or that made it bigger than it had already been. Russell Findlay 'At that point, some Daniel gang-related associate was in the Costa del Sol and ascertained the Lyons were close to the Kinahans and took the view that they could not make a move on them in Spain. 'They could not make a move against Stephen in Spain. 'So, if the Daniel gang took the view that was too big a move or that the backlash would be too big back then, it would be consistent with them not having the wherewithal to do it now.' The source said Stephen Lyons is the only member remaining out of the youth gang from which he, Michael and Eddie Jnr emerged. 'The rest are either dead or in prison,' he said. Asked if Stephen Lyons has anything to fear from his long-term allies, the Kinahans, the source responded: 'These people have absolutely no qualms about putting a knife between the shoulder blades of their best friends if it suits them. 'There's no loyalty and there's a paranoia that envelopes everything they do. So, it would be premature to assume the Kinahans are on a war footing over this to avenge the Lyons murders when for all we know they could have been responsible for it.' In their statement released on Tuesday, Police Scotland said they were not directly investigating the double murder. Instead they said: 'The investigation into the fatal shootings in Fuengirola is being carried out by Spanish police,' it said. 'Police Scotland is supporting Spanish police where requested; however at this time we have no officers deployed within Spain. 'There is currently no intelligence to suggest the deaths of these two men in Spain are linked to the recent criminal attacks in Scotland being investigated as part of Operation Portaledge. 'Any misinformation or speculation linking the events in Spain are not helpful to the ongoing investigations in either country. '
