Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 21429Criminal damage · Co. Laois

Gardaí alerted to large-scale dumping of contaminated waste in Cloncourse forest, Laois

Gardaí in Laois were alerted to large-scale dumping of garden waste in a private forest at Cloncourse, between Portlaoise and Mountrath, sometime between 10 and 20 April 2023. The landowner said the culprits cut bolts and sawed through a barrier to reach a private forest road, then left piles of Leylandii trees, stumps, broken concrete fence posts, wire and plastic, which the landowner described as contaminated. The landowner reported the incident to gardaí for criminal damage and asked anyone with information to contact them. As of the article published on 20 April 2023, no suspect had been identified, arrested or charged.

  1. Reported20 Apr
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Large piles of Leylandii trees, stumps, broken concrete fence posts, wire and plastic were dumped on private forest land.
  • The landowner describes the dumped waste as contaminated.
Where
The dumping took place in a private forest at Cloncourse, between Portlaoise and Mountrath, in Laois; the article also spells the place as Concourse.
When
  • The incident took place some time between 10 and 20 April 2023.
  • Gardaí in Laois were alerted to the dumping, and the article was published on 20 April 2023.
Cause
The culprits cut through bolts and sawed through a barrier to reach a private forest road.
Other details
The dumpers likely used heavy machinery, including a chainsaw, a digger and a large trailer.
Investigation
  • The landowner reported the incident to gardaí as criminal damage.
  • The landowner asked anyone with information to contact gardaí.
Charges
No suspect has been identified, arrested or charged in the reports.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLarge piles of Leylandii trees, stumps, broken concrete fence posts, wire and plastic were dumped on the forest land. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whatThe landowner describes the waste as contaminated. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereGardaí in Laois were alerted to large-scale garden waste dumped in a private forest. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe waste was dumped in Cloncourse, Laois. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe forest is between Portlaoise and Mountrath. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe incident took place some time between 10 and 20 April 2023. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeThe culprits cut through bolts and sawed through a barrier to reach a private forest road. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe landowner reported the incident to gardaí for criminal damage. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe landowner asked anyone with information to contact gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe dumpers likely used a chainsaw, a digger and a large trailer. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Apr2023
    Reportedleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    Laois Gardaí alerted over "commercial dumping " in private forest

    Covers the landowner's account of how the waste was dumped, the type of waste, the April 10 to 20 window, and the report to gardaí for criminal damage. No suspect is identified.

    victim