VIDEO: Council hit squad seize large amounts of illegal bonfire material

A TEAM of workmen led by officers from the environmental section of Mayo County Council today swooped on a number of planned midsummer bonfire sites in Castlebar.

More than a ton of household goods including broken TVs, beds, mattresses, couches, heaters, suitcases and child buggies, were seized and brought to the McGrath Waste complex site in Moneen for disposal.

The bonfire sites targeted today include Knockpahunta, Hazel Grove and Lios Na Circe in the Saleen area on the southern edge of town.

Other 'hits' are planned for residential areas where large piles of waste material has accumulated in advance of traditional St. John's Eve bonfires tomorrow (June 23).

Two environmental officers from Mayo County Council, assisted by five workmen are involved in the operation, a costly effort in  terms of manpower and waste disposal costs.

Said Liam Rabbitte, environmental enforcement officer: 'Unfortunately,many people are using the traditional bonfire night as an opportunity to get rid of unwanted household waste.

'What's going on is simply abhorrent.'

Our video shows the council clean up operation this afternoon (Thursday) at Lios Na Circe, Saleen.

More on this story, plus photos, in next Tuesday's edition of The Connaught Telegraph.