Criminal probe under way over asbestos at south Belfast site

A criminal investigation is under way into a quantity of asbestos remaining at a site in south Belfast.

The site, located between the Donegall Road and the Westlink, hit the headlines last month when a loyalist July 11 bonfire was sited and lit despite the presence of asbestos, as well as its proximity to an electricity sub station.

On Friday, Stormont Agriculture and Environment Minister Andrew Muir said the presence of asbestos on the site, which is privately owned, is under criminal investigation by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

He told BBC Radio Ulster that the NEA “rightly considers this very seriously and will be doing all that they can in regards to it because this is an issue of concern and the officials in my department are working studiously in regards to it”.

DUP MLA Edwin Poots said local politicians had been pressing for action.

“I welcome all works that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency will do to ensure that the landowners meet their obligations and responsibilities, and have whatever asbestos is on this site removed as soon as possible,” he said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs said an environmental crime investigation was opened on May 19, and initial inquiries have begun.

“While the immediate focus for the NIEA is on the efforts by the landowner to remove the asbestos pile safely from the site, it should be noted that as NIEA has initiated a criminal investigation into this matter the agency is unable to comment further on the specifics of this site,” they said.

“It is important to note that removing the asbestos will be a highly specialised, complex and delicate operation that will require the site to be fully vacated. Indeed, the work is of such complexity that the full removal will take a number of weeks.”