The late TJ Sweeney who tragically passed away following a farm accident
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27 Jan 2026
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27 Jan 2026
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Soiled nappies and household items were dumped in a scenic spot near Lough Sheelin, resulted in a costly clean-up for the local council.
Westmeath County Council confirmed that it is investigating an illegal dumping incident which occurred at Sailor’s Garden in Finnea on the shores of Lough Sheelin. The incident came to the attention of the Council’s Environment Department on Tuesday 16th January 2024.
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The items, which included a large number of soiled nappies and other household items, were dumped close to a picnic table on the shoreline of the lake causing a risk to the wildlife and the general public.
"Illegal dumping remains an ongoing issue for Westmeath County Council but this was a particularly bad incident," a spokesperson for the council said.
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"Sailor's Garden is a very scenic location that attracts a lot of visitors and is a location rich in biodiversity and wildlife.
"This will be a costly clean-up for the local authority, and will unnecessarily divert funding from other essential services provided by this council to the community," the spokesperson said.
In an effort to identify the perpetrators, council staff went through the waste by hand, which is time consuming, as well being deeply unpleasant and a health risk for those involved, the spokesperson outlined.
Unfortunately, Westmeath County Council's Environment Section receives reports about illegal dumping incidents on an almost weekly basis, they added.
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To combat the ongoing issue of illegal dumping, Westmeath County Council’s Environment staff continue to generate awareness around the damaging impacts of illegal dumping including the unlawful disposal of waste by unlicensed waste collectors.
The Council would urge the public to be vigilant and should they see any suspicious activity, they would be advised to contact environment@westmeathcoco.ie or by freephone 1800 819 000.
The local authority also advised people to always be sure to only dispose of your waste to licensed waste collectors.
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