Air Corps toxic exposure survivors say they are “disgusted” by what the Defence Minister said.
Survivors of toxic poisoning in the Air Corps have demanded Helen McEntee apologise for remarks she made in the Dáil.
They have accused her of “belittling” suffering they have endured after being exposed to toxic chemicals without adequate PPE since the 1970s.
Air Corps Chemical Abuse Survivors campaign group spokesperson and former Air Corps technician Gavin Tobin said: “Her remarks were offensive and she should apologise.”
The defence minister was asked by Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire on Thursday, May 7 to consider the way the Australian government supported its air crews exposed to toxic chemicals.
More than 400 Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) maintenance crew members who contracted any one of 31 prescribed illnesses – including cancer – while working for the air force were given compensation and ongoing screening and healthcare.
Almost all of the Air Corps maintenance workers in Ireland who have either died or fallen ill since 1980 have suffered or are still suffering the same illness on that prescribed illnesses list.
The comparison between the Irish Air Corps and RAAF was first brought up by Micheal Martin in the Dáil in February 2017.
Then, as leader of the opposition, he demanded the government commission an independent health outcome study of aircraft maintenance personnel “similar to that carried out by the Australian Government”.
This audit examined systems in each Defence Forces formation – including the Air Corps, which has around 30 outstanding damages claims against it from former personnel.
Read full article by Neil Michael below…
https://reporterneilmichael.substack.com/p/mcentee-should-apologise-for-remarks
It’s really upsetting to hear about this. The survivors deserve a sincere acknowledgement of the harm they’ve faced.