A toxic mercury spill temporarily shut down one of the Air Corps’ hangars, the Defence Forces have confirmed.
Details of the spill first emerged in an email sent on Monday by a commandant at Air Corps Headquarters in Casement Airbase, Baldonnel. He warned “all personnel” that Hangar No 4 was closed “due to a mercury spillage.”
He informed staff that the Air Corps Health and Safety Section had taken control of the clean-up operation and that the area would remain cordoned off until specialised cleaning equipment arrived.
A Defence Forces spokesperson confirmed the incident occurred at approximately 1.45pm on Monday.
A small quantity — 100 mg — of metallic mercury was accidentally spilled inside the hangar when an avionics device, a manometer, was dropped during transport.
The spokesperson said: “No personnel were exposed, and the affected area was immediately sealed off as a precautionary measure.
Air Corps Headquarters contacted the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The spokesperson added: “There was no risk to personnel health at any time prior to the incident, as the mercury was securely contained and only present in a very small amount.
The spill occurred in the same hangar that recently hosted the Aviation and Aerospace Careers Expo, AvCon 2025.
The annual event showcases aviation careers and technology to more than 8,000 students across primary, secondary, and third-level education.
The Irish Examiner has learned that before the conference, the HSA received a complaint about the storage of turbine engine oils and hydraulic fluids in the hangar.
The Air Corps has been asked why the HSA visited the base and what actions or assurances resulted from the inspection.
Read full article by Neil Michael at the Irish Examiner
https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/arid-41569999.html
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Once again the Irish Air Corps play fast & loose with oversight authorities as they only notified the EPA & HSA after the Defence Forces press office was contacted by the journalist.