Tag: Simon Harris

Mercury spill forces closure of Air Corps hangar at Baldonnel airbase

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. 

State attempting to reach settlements with Air Corps chemical victims, Tánaiste says

Cases relating to exposure to dangerous chemicals used in aircraft maintenance are due before the courts

The State Claims Agency (SCA) is attempting to reach settlements with Air Corps members who were exposed to dangerous chemicals during their work, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said.

It follows the conclusion of a landmark court case earlier this year in which a former Air Corps technician was awarded €2 million.

In what was seen as a major test case, Gary Coll (51), from Lifford, Co Donegal, alleged his exposure to chemicals in the workshops of Casement Aerodrome caused him severe and lifelong health problems.

On the opening day of the hearing last February the parties agreed a settlement that did not include any admission of responsibility by the State.

Campaigners accused the State of dragging out the legal process for more than a decade.

The case against the Department of Defence was the first of 10 personal injuries cases due before the courts relating to the exposure of Air Corps members to dangerous chemicals and solvents used in aircraft maintenance.

Campaigners say there are many other Air Corps veterans who have died prematurely or suffered severe health problems in connection with their work.

Now, Mr Harris, who is also Minister for Defence, has signalled the State is keen to settle the remaining cases.

“I want to see a resolution in this regard,” Mr Harris told the Dáil this week. “I am advised there is currently active engagement between the State Claims Agency and litigants to determine if mutually agreeable resolutions can be found to their cases.

“I want to see that happen and I encourage the State Claims Agency to continue that approach, as I know it will. Trying to bring this issue to a resolution that works is important.”

The Tánaiste said an engagement process with former Air Corps personnel is “now genuinely under way” and that it should be allowed proceed “to a point where there is an achievable outcome that is acceptable to all parties”.

Gavin Tobin, a former Air Corps technician, estimates there have been nearly 100 deaths that may have involved exposure to dangerous chemicals.

He rejected Mr Harris’s claim that the State is engaging with veterans and accused it of only coming to an agreement in Mr Coll’s case at the 11th hour.

“A haggle on the corridors of the High Court where the State Claims Agency attempts to destroy reputations by calling injured personnel liars is not engagement,” said Mr Tobin who has been campaigning for years on the issue and who also suffers serious health issues.

He accused the Government of “using the might of the State to threaten financial ruin” on plaintiffs if they reject settlement offers.

“Threatening bankruptcy unless we accept settlement is not an engagement process,” he said. “Nobody is engaging with us.”

Read full article by  Conor Gallagher at  the Irish Times
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/05/14/state-attempting-to-reach-settlements-with-air-corps-chemical-victims-tanaiste-says/

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Delay – Deny – Die