Man arrested in Spain over illegal dumping charges near Sallins

A DUBLIN businessman has been arrested in Malaga on charges relating to illegal dumping near Sallins..

Anthony Dean, who is aged in his 60s, was picked up by the Spanish authorities on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. It is understood that the warrant was issued after an investigation by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NCBI). A spokeswoman for the ­Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the body has been notified of the arrest. "We were made aware of the arrest ... and we are working closely with the gardaí. "Our interest is in relation to the Kerdiffstown landfill site and we cannot comment any further at this time."

The controversial Naas site is being cleaned up by Kildare County Council at a cost of €8.5m to the taxpayer.

The Council is now asking the public for input on whether the area should become a public park or landscaped fields.

Mr Dean is a director of Jenzsoph Ltd which was convicted in 2015 on two charges of causing environmental pollution in relation to its role operating the Kerdiffstown landfill in Co Kildare. Both Mr Dean and Samuel Stears, the other director of Jenzoph Ltd, were directors of two other companies involved in the site which have since gone out of business.

Last October a fine of €20m (€10m per charge) was levied against the company and the company was ordered to pay the fine within one month. The landmark fine was the largest ever levied against a company for environmental damage. At the time it was reported that further charges may have been coming down the line in relation to the site. The total cost of reversing the damage at the site could reach €30m according to an EPA estimate.