By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Royal Mail has launched an investigation after hundreds of undelivered letters were discovered dumped on a country road outside Londonderry on Wednesday.
Discovery of dumped mail
SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said an estimated 400 unopened letters were handed into his office after being found in the Mobuoy area. Many were bundled with elastic bands and included correspondence from health trusts, banks and the Department for Work and Pensions addressed to Derry residents.
Police seize additional mail
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said it received a report on Wednesday about postal mail found at a location on Mobuoy Road. Follow-up inquiries led to the discovery and seizure of a further quantity of mail. Police enquiries are ongoing and officers are liaising with Royal Mail.
Royal Mail response
A Royal Mail spokesperson said teams would work to recover and process the items so they can be returned to the postal network and delivered to customers.
Concerns over confidential information
Durkan described the discovery as "absolutely shocking" and called for a full investigation and accountability. He warned that many letters appear to contain confidential, sensitive information and that some people may have missed important correspondence affecting access to essential services.
