Councillor Dave O’Keeffe (People Before Profit) has welcomed a commitment from Bank of Ireland to cover the full cost of the clean-up and restoration following the serious diesel spill in Kilbogget Park but warns that this cannot be the end of the matter.
“I received confirmation from Bank of Ireland by email that they will cover the full cost of the clean-up. That commitment is welcome and it wouldn’t have happened without public pressure,” said Cllr O’Keeffe.
“But make no mistake: this was not a minor incident. Oil poured into a public park and river. Wildlife was harmed. The real cost of full clean-up, wildlife care, and long-term ecological restoration could run into the hundreds of thousands. We need to know exactly what’s being done — and that no corners are being cut.”
Cllr O’Keeffe also raised serious concerns about the official response from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.
“Council management told me the diesel has ‘washed out to sea’ and will ‘break down by natural processes’. That’s not a clean-up — that’s a cover-up,” he said.
“Allowing toxic diesel to enter marine ecosystems without a proper containment or restoration plan is simply unacceptable. The public deserves transparency and real accountability.”
Cllr O’Keeffe is calling for a full independent investigation into how the spill was handled by both Bank of Ireland and DLR Council, including:
- The speed and adequacy of the initial response
- What actions were taken to protect wildlife and contain the spill
- How the environmental impact will be monitored
- What long-term restoration plans are in place
“We can’t just hose down a footpath and call it a job done. This is about our local environment, our public spaces, and the principle that corporate polluters, and those responsible for oversight, must be held to account.”
Cllr O’Keeffe is hosting a public street meeting – All welcome
Wednesday, July 30th – 7PM
By the pond in Kilbogget Park
“This is our park, not a dumping ground. We need to make sure this isn’t swept under the carpet. Come down, have your say, and let’s make sure this never happens again,” said Cllr O’Keeffe.
Contact:
Cllr Dave O’Keeffe - 0834898499
dokeeffe@cllr.dlrcoco.ie