Three more fires around Spring Lane halting site as gardaí continue Ellis’s Yard probe

EMERGENCY services were called to three separate fires around Spring Lane halting site today.

The halting site is located next to Ellis’s yard, a former illegal dumping ground in Ballyvolane that has been the scene of threats and arson attacks in recent weeks.

Fire crews from Ballyvolane and Anglesea St were called out to two rubbish fires and a caravan fire between 2pm and 7pm today.

Meanwhile, gardaí confirmed that no arrests have yet been made as an investigation continues into an arson attack on a security cabin at Ellis’s Yard last week.

A portable cabin used to house security staff at the site was set alight last Friday night just two days after an armed masked gang forced Tekken security members off-site in a tense stand-off.

While security has been removed on a 24-hour basis, patrols are continuing at Ellis’s Yard.

The security members were officially removed for “health and safety” reasons but The Echo understands they were threatened with baseball bats and golf clubs by the gang in an attempt to intimidate and regain access to the illegal dump which had been used in an unlicensed waste collection racket.

The site was recently cleared up at a cost of €53,000 by Cork City Council with 200 tonnes of domestic and commercial waste and four and a half tonnes of toxic asbestos removed from the yard to be disposed of safely.

Numerous instances of fly-tipping have been recorded since, with up to 70 bags of domestic rubbish left on the road at Spring Lane in one incident last month.

The city council is currently pursuing five alleged dumpers from evidence recovered from these bags.

Locals in neighbouring housing estates are said to be “scared” and “intimidated” by last week’s attacks which have sent shockwaves through the local community.