[ad_1]
A FINE Gael councilor in Waterford faces a legal battle in Superior Court with his own local authority over alleged violations of waste management laws.
Eclan Doocey, a Lismore Councilor and former Mayor of Waterford, runs an agricultural plastic waste collection service in and around Waterford County.
Waterford City Council and County allege violations of Sections 57 and 58 of the Waste Management Laws. This relates to the conservation, recovery or disposal of waste in a way that causes or may cause environmental pollution.
The local authority is represented by Mason, Hayes and Curran, while Doocey has engaged the services of Patrick J O’Meara and Co.
Mr. Doocey denies any wrongdoing. He told the Sunday Independent that China’s environmental crackdown in recent years had caused a collapse in the export of plastic waste to the country.
“The Chinese market collapsed in 2017 and it has had a terrible domino effect on plastic exports,” he said. “The council, because of my position, played hard on me.”
He said he has evidence to show that he had tried to remedy the problem in recent years and said he was confident that he would clear his name.
He has run the business with his wife since 1999. Doocey was elected Fine Gael County Councilor in 2004 and served as Mayor in 2018.
In a statement, the local authority said: “In July 2020, the City and County of Waterford, through their attorneys Mason Hayes and Curran, initiated Superior Court proceedings pursuant to sections 57 and 58 of the Laws 1996-2011 Waste Management Committee against Declan Doocey of Ballinraha, Lismore, Co Waterford.
“Since the proceedings are currently in the Superior Court, the City and County of Waterford will not comment further on the matter at this time.”
Online editors
[ad_2]