BY AILEEN MURPHY
Discarded rubbish is spoiling one of Fermanagh's most scenic areas.
Councillor Domhnall Ó'Cobhthaigh has discovered a number of separate tips in the Skeoghoge Townland to the north of Slieve Rushen Mountain.
The rubbish was discovered while the councillor was conducting an audit of rural road conditions around Kinawley and Derrylin areas.
"The rubbish was tipped to the side of a private road," he explained.
"It contained domestic rubbish, decomposed dead sheep, refrigerators, mounds of roof tiles and burnt out cars.
"Some of the more recent rubbish was burnt on-site but some had been present for a considerably longer period of time. The area is in serious need of a complete clean up.
Commenting on the source of the rubbish, Councillor Ó'Cobhthaigh said:
"From some of the material I saw, I believe at least part of it originated from the north. Such littering is inexcusable at a time when the council provides regular collections and the whole world knows that littering poses a serious threat to our environment.
"I don't understand why anyone would choose to litter here at the top of this mountain."
The mountain area is one of Fermanagh's most scenic viewpoints and home to several rare species of birds as well as Slieve Rushen's Wind Turbines.
"I have spoken to the council about this but because it is on private land, they are powerless to clear it.
"I also raised the state of the existing Doon Scenic Viewing point which is overgrown and littered and have been told that they will address this. Doon Viewing point and Slieve Rushen is a potentially wonderful attraction which I think we need to profile to visitors to our county.
"I have spoken to the appropriate division of Environmental Heritage Service who will now investigate it further and I hope that the situation will be remedied swiftly."
A spokesperson for the Environment and Heritage Service said:
"EHS is aware of an incident in this area. It has been logged and officers will be investigating."
A spokesperson for the Quinn Group, who own land in the area, said the rubbish was not dumped on their land, and explained there are a number of landowners responsible for the area in question.
