An Irish grower claims his Christmas market was “wiped out” by an oil spray that contaminated crops in north county Dublin, the centre of the Republic’s horticulture industry.

John Moore, who farms 150 acres of fresh produce in the area and was one of the worst affected, said: “My business has been effectively closed down since before Christmas, when this happened. I’ve lost my two main contracts and the whole of the Christmas market. Suppliers just wouldn’t take my produce because of health fears over the contamination.

“I can’t even use my machinery because it’s still saturated with the oil, just like my potatoes, cabbages and the rest of the crops.”

Bord Gais, a state-owned company, has admitted responsibility for the incident, but blames the weather. Workmen were clearing pipes that carry gas from Scotland to an on-shore station at Loughshinney, on the north Dublin coast, when high winds blew the oil residue over local farms, it says.

“Clearing the pipes is an operation we undertake about every six months,” said a spokeswoman. “The problem was that this time the work was being carried out in a period of high winds. We are reviewing the process to ensure it can’t happen again.”

A series of investigations into the incident is also underway, involving Bord Gais, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food Safety Authority and the local authority for north county Dublin, Fingal council. Bord Gais claims to have established there is no public health risk from the contamination, but is preparing to discuss compensation with the growers affected.

Moore is reluctant to put a figure on his losses but says he will be seeking “very significant” recompense. He is also waiting for Bord Gais to deliver on its promise to clean his machinery. “I was bagging cabbage in the yard when this cloud of oil suddenly appeared and covered everything,” he said.

“I had to intervene and ask the men clearing the pipes to stop. We are growing vegetables here and supplying supermarkets across the country. It’s disgraceful that something like this could happen and destroy our produce at what should be our busiest time of year.”

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