Council closes site after workers threatened

Date Published: 25-Jun-2010

PERSONAL threats to City Council staff from some members of the Travelling Community have led to the closure of the composting plant at Carrowbrowne since Monday last.

The Galway City Tribune has learned that some Travellers have taken umbrage at measures being taken by the City Council to prevent horses from grazing on the old landfill site at Carrowbrowne.

Matters came to a head last Monday at around 2pm when one member of the City Council staff was approached by a number of Travellers who told him that they knew where he lived.

Another member of staff had also complained in the past that a group of men told him that they “would break his leg” if they were stopped from gaining access to the 20-plus acres area of rough grazing land near the composting plant.

Following consultations between the SIPTU union, which represents the City Council employees and the City Council, staff at the composting plant were re-deployed from the site to other duties – the area has been locked up since.

The problem with unauthorised access to the old landfill site has been going on for several months with sections of the perimeter fence cut in order to gain access.

Gardaí were also called to the scene earlier this week, and according to SIPTU, the Gardaí have been made aware of the situation in relation to the personal safety of people working on the site.

City Council Acting Director of Services, Kevin Swift, told the Galway City Tribune that following an incident at the plant on Monday, a decision had been taken to redeploy the workers to other duties.

“We are in the process of tackling the source of this problem to ensure that this workplace is a safe environment for our employees.

“It is our intention to be back in business this week and we are in regular contact with the Gardai on this matter,” said Kevin Swift.

The Galway City Tribune has learned that at different stages, up to 25 horses have been illegally grazing on the City Council lands, despite moves at different times to impound the animals.

There were also a number of horse deaths on the site during the extreme weather conditions of earlier this year.

According to SIPTU, the employee who was threatened last Monday was “badly shaken up and frightened” at what was said to him.

One source said that what was particularly frightening was the threat to the employee’s residence by the group of Travellers who confronted the workers.