Environmental campaigners praised for holding people 'criminally responsible' for the illegal Mobuoy dump
'Tens of millions was made out of turning Mobuoy toxic, but it was an open secret' - Cllr Shaun Harkin
Derry City and Strabane District councillor Shaun Harkin (PBP) has praised the role of environmental campaigners in holding people "criminally responsible" for the illegal Mobuoy dump.
Two men were jailed at Derry Crown Court on Friday, June 6, 2025, for their part in what a judge described as "a systemic pattern of established behaviour to facilitate industrial level environmental crime" in relation to illegal dumping at Mobuoy Road.
Paul Doherty (66) of Culmore Road and Gérard Farmer (58) of Westlake both in Derry had pleaded guilty to a series of waste management offences that occurred on dates between January 1, 2011 and July 4, 2013 in Doherty's case and July 1, 2007 and August 5, 2013 in Farmer's case.
Cllr Harkin said: "The only reason anyone has been held criminally accountable for the illegal Mobuoy dump is because of the persistence of campaigners to expose the truth and demand action. Often treated as an nuisance, they should be fully commended for their efforts.
"Tens of millions was made out of turning Mobuoy toxic, but it was an open secret. There is no way this enterprise happened without the knowledge and consent of elements of the political and business establishment.
"There are illegal dumps all over the North. Lough Neagh has been poisoned by pollution. Raw sewage is dumped directly into our rivers, streams and coastal waters. This includes the River Foyle.
"The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was environmental crime. Moy Park has made hundreds of millions, and others have profited massively, as a direct consequence of Stormont's disastrous 'Going for Growth' policy," said Cllr Harkin.
Cllr Harkin also criticised the fact a judge ruled the "environment wrecking practices" of Dalradian, the "billionaire goldmining corporation" were illegal and 99% of respondents to a public consultation objected to mining licences being granted.
"Nevertheless, the Economy Minister and the Department for Economy still sees fit to dish them out," he added.
"Profiteering from pollution has been given a greenlight by the Stormont political establishment for decades. It is been treated as an acceptable way to do business. It's the capitalist way. This is why there has been an attempt to bury the issue of Mobuoy since it was first exposed more than a decade ago. This is why there is tremendous resistance to the demand for a public inquiry into Mobuoy dump. This is why there is opposition from Executive Parties for an Independent Environmental Protection Agency.
"The Stormont Assembly passed a Climate Act but it won't matter as long as profiteering, no matter the cost, by big business is prioritised over protecting our water, land, air and health.
"The Mobuoy dump ruling is a wake-up call for urgent action to protect our environment and on the need to hold government and polluters to account.
"Urgent action number one is working with local residents to clean up the mess at Mobuoy."