The owners of one of Ireland's oldest stately homes have vowed not to pay the costs of removing asbestos which has been dumped on their lands. Ronan McGreevy reports.
Three times in the last fortnight, fly-tippers have left building materials containing asbestos in the grounds of Dunsany Castle in Co Meath.
The 12th century castle and grounds is the home of the Plunkett family which included St Oliver Plunkett and Horace Plunkett, the founder of the co-operative movement.
The cost of removing the asbestos is estimated at between €3,000 and €10,000.
Officials from Meath County Council made an informal call to Dunsany Castle on Thursday, a day after fly-tippers left a trailer-load of asbestos in a cornfield near the castle. The perpetrators crashed through the gates of the field before leaving the rubbish behind them.
According to a council spokesman, the Plunkett family will be served next week with a Section 55 notice under the Waste Management Act 1996 ordering them to remove the asbestos material from the lands.
"The law was drafted that way to stop people using the excuse that 'It's not mine. I don't have to deal with it'," the council spokesman said.
"We sympathise with the plight of anyone who has illegal dumping on their land, but our responsibilities under the law are quite clear."
The Plunketts will be given a fortnight to comply with the order. If they do not comply, the council can take them to court to recover the costs of the removal.
The family could then face a fine of up to €12,700 in the District Court plus a fine of €1,270 for every day of non-compliance. A failure to pay could lead to up to two years in prison.
Brazilian-born Lady Dunsany, the wife of the 20th Lord Dunsany, said the family had been the victim of a criminal act and they would not pay for the clean-up.
"I'm the one who is responsible for the administration of the estate because my husband is an artist. I say no and with my son, Randal, who is going to be the heir here, the answer is still no.
"It is unfair and it is unjust. I know the council is acting within the law, but we are the victims of a criminal action.
"It is a bad precedent that somebody who has a lot of land and is rich is presumably going to pay. It will only stimulate future wrongdoing and will turn the whole of our estate into a dump," she said.
Randal Plunkett, who is in line to become the 21st Lord Dunsany, said he supports his mother's actions. "It is like if somebody burgles your home and leaves drugs and firearms behind them and you get charged with possession," he said.
Asbestos is regarded as an extremely hazardous substance that has caused thousands of deaths. It has been associated with lung cancer and other serious lung diseases.
Though most of those who die have long-term exposure to asbestos, cases have occurred with victims who had only limited exposure to asbestos fibres.
The disposal and removal of asbestos can only be carried out by a specialist contractor and haulier licensed by the local authority.
Some forms of asbestos have to be brought to Cork where they are shipped to a site in Germany for disposal.
Asbestos contractor Flor Crowley said the whole process is extremely labour intensive and even the simplest removal can cost €1,800.
"Before you remove it, it has to be doubly wrapped in polythene and then put on a pallet which needs two people . . . sometimes a UV lamp is needed to sweep the area for fibres," he said.