Mobuoy Illegal Dump Clean-up in Northern Ireland Will Not Start Until 2028
Work to remediate the contaminated Mobuoy dump at Campsie in County Londonderry, one of Europe's most substantial illegal landfill sites, is projected to begin no earlier than 2028. Northern Ireland's Environment Minister, Andrew Muir, indicated the clean-up could take up to five years.
Discovered in 2013, the Mobuoy site spans over 100 acres and contains thousands of tonnes of illegally buried waste. In June last year, two businessmen, Paul Doherty and Gerard Farmer, received prison sentences for their involvement in the illegal operation, which prosecutors stated was driven entirely by financial gain.
Muir stressed that the site's remediation is "non-negotiable" and "must take place", with the initial cost estimate exceeding £100m. His department is now working to finalise cost estimates, a process expected to take three months, followed by five months to secure funding and develop a remediation strategy. The procurement of contractors is anticipated to commence in April 2027, requiring a further nine to twelve months.
The large-scale works will necessitate financial backing from the UK government. However, SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan, a former environment minister, expressed disappointment at the lack of new information and criticised the 2028 start date as "indicative of a lack of urgency". Durkan highlighted public purse pressures, stating he was "not confident" the executive would prioritise the issue.
Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) accounts from 2022/23, published in February 2024, contained an estimate of £107m for clean-up using pollution prevention measures. This figure is a "point in time" estimate, likely to increase with further delays. Investigations suggest approximately 1.6m tonnes of waste are present at Mobuoy, with 627,000 tonnes believed to have been dumped illegally. The polluted area is equivalent to 65-70 football pitches.
