Knockharley locals stage sit in at EPA headquarters over landfill

A group of residents from Kentstown last week 'sat-in' at the offices of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) inspectorate at Clonskeagh in Dublin to highlight their protest that the EPA had failed to police the GreenStar landfill at Knockharley. Residents" committee chairperson, Paddy Lawlor said they had come to the EPA to meet Dr Mary Kelly, director-general of the EPA. He complained that Dr Kelly had not come to meet the people of Kentstown in relation to the dump. Mr Lawlor handed in a copy of a letter of protest, together with a copy of the Local Community News to the EPA. Mr Lawlor said that local residents were subject to 'a disgusting odour' each day but no action had been taken to resolve the matter. He criticised the EPA, claiming it had failed to 'police' the site. It was left to local people to do this, he added. Green Party local elections candidate, Fergal O"Byrne, said local residents were demanding that the dump be closed. The EPA regional manager, Dr Ken Macken, spoke to the group, along with two Dublin-based inspectors and the senior inspector, Ciaran O"Brien, via a phone link from the EPA"s Cork office. The EPA handed over a letter to the protestors stating that legal proceedings against GreenStar would proceed next Wednesday, 26th November. When legal proceedings were concluded, then the board of the EPA said it would meet with the Knockharley residents. Kentstown National School principal, Maura Beggy, said teachers had a duty of care towards the children they taught. Kentstown was the only national school in Ireland which had to have and rehearse an emergency evacuation plan for the safe removal of the pupils from the school in case of gas hazard.