Blood contained in tubes among hospital waste dumped at a site in Co Wicklow had the potential to contaminate a nearby river tributary, an environmental consultant told the High Court yesterday. However, Mr Donal Ó Laoire conceded, no blood pollution was found in the river.
He was giving evidence in proceedings by Wicklow County Council arising from alleged illegal dumping of hospital waste at Coolnamadra, Donard, Co Wicklow.
The council is suing Mr Clifford Fenton, owner of the lands; Swalcliffe Ltd, trading as Dublin Waste, and its directors, Mr Louis Moriarty and Ms Eileen Moriarty.
The court has heard that the waste material came from two sources, the private Blackrock Clinic and the public Mater Hospital, Dublin.
Yesterday, Mr Ó Laoire said diseases such as CJD and BSE were very much an unknown area. He believed that, adjacent to the site, a river which flowed into the River Slaney could be contaminated by the dumped blood products.
He conceded that no blood pollution had been found but he estimated there were about 8,000 tonnes of illegal waste dumped at the unlicensed and uncontained site. He added that the situation could be compared to the anthrax scare in the US where a minuscule amount of that material could raise major problems for the health and safety of the public.
Dublin Waste has accepted responsibility for 400 tonnes of that waste which, it said, was dumped without its knowledge by a sub-contractor employed by them. The sub-contractor was sacked when it came to their notice.
Mr Ó Laoire said the hazardous waste had mixed with the much larger tonnage of other waste. He said the site included a steep slope and the clay was falling down the slope and was not stable.
Samples taken from the site showed a large accumulation of noxious material. While there was a risk to those who might remove the waste, there would be an even greater risk if it were left there. The material was "totally unsuitable for a landfill" and the closeness of the river made it inappropriate for containment.
The site was in a sand pit quarry which meant it could be permeable to ground water. Evidence was given previously that it could cost up to €20 million to clear the waste and make the site safe. The hearing continues on Friday.