Lismore councillor to face High Court

The Dungarvan Lismore MD Councillor, Declan Doocey, is being taken to the High Court for alleged waste management breaches.

The former Fine Gael Mayor is facing the legal battle due to breaches in relation to his waste farm plastics collection service to counties Waterford, Tipperary and Cork.

Cllr Doocey has run the waste collection company with his wife since 1999 and offers on-site collection along with ‘bring centres’.

Waterford City and County Council are pursuing Cllr Doocey under sections 57 and 58 of the Waste Management Act.

Section 57 of the Waste Management Act requires the person holding, recovering or disposing of waste to carry out measures to limit or prevent pollution within a specified period, whereas section 58 refers to the unauthorised holding, recovery or disposal of waste.

It is understood that the Lismore local had continued to collect waste farm plastics despite the collapse in the Chinese market, who were major processors of much recycled plastic waste.

According to The Irish Times, Cllr Doocey is said to have not complied with an earlier council request to desist from collecting the waste, and stockpiled more than three times the permitted quantity at a site in Ballinaraha.

In a Sunday Independent report, it states that Cllr Doocey “has evidence to show he had sought to remedy the issue in recent years and said he was confident he would clear his name.”

The case is due to appear before the High Court on Monday, October 19.