A decision not to hold a public inquiry into a huge illegal landfill site on the outskirts of L'Derry has been met with major criticism.

This comes after the Assembly voted unanimously in favour of a public inquiry back in 2014.

DAERA Minister Edwin Poots has been urged to reverse his decision.

Former Environment Minister Mark H Durkan said: "It is estimated that almost 1 million tons of waste has been illegally dumped at Mobuoy and the decision by the Minister not to hold a public inquiry into how this happened is disappointing. There is widespread public concern here in Derry and further afield as to how such a large amount of waste was dumped here illegally.


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"There are so many lessons that can be learned by what happened at Mobuoy and I believe a public inquiry is the only way we will ever know the full extent of what was dumped at the site and how much of it there actually is."

SDLP Councillor for Ballyarnett DEA, Brian Tierney, who also Chairs the local Councils Environment and Regeneration committee, also added his voice to the chorus of disappointment.

"In 2014 the Assembly voted unanimously in favour of a public inquiry as did Derry City and Strabane District council," he commented.

"The Minister needs to urgently reverse this decision and get proceedings underway for a full public inquiry into what went in at Mobuoy."

(CM/JG)