Air Corps Chemical Abuse

Irish

Survivors
An information resource for serving & former members of the Irish Army
Air Corps suffering illness due to unprotected toxic chemical exposure
in the workplace.

The call for a health study, similar to one established in

Australia to examine the correlation between illnesses in
its air force and their members use of chemicals, comes
following months of revelations in the Irish Examiner.
Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin said he will raise the
request in the Dil, and said the Governments response
to the scandal has been deficient to date.
Mr Martins stance follows a recent meeting he and his
party defence spokeswoman Lisa Chambers held with a
number of former Air Corps staff.
The group, all in their 40s and 50s, listed the litany of
illnesses they have suffered since leaving the Air Corps,
including rectal cancer, Hodgkins lymphoma, heart
attacks, autoimmune diseases, depression and anxieties,
solvent-induced encephalopathy, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease even among non-smokers.
All suffer significant health issues, Mr Martin said,
describing the encounter as a sad and often difficult
meeting.
One has undergone five surgeries and is in constant pain.
They all have personal issues. One has had two heart
attacks and in one instance was kept alive by his wife and
a first responder, said Mr Martin.
All were exposed to chemicals, and in at least one case,
the person was tubbed sat in a bath and doused in
chemicals which was a ritual at the time, he said.
I was taken aback at some of what they had to say,
particularly about not having protective clothing.
One told me that subsequent to his time at the Air Corps,
he went into private industry and couldnt get over the
contrast in terms of the attitude and directions for handling
chemical spills and use of protective suits. The contrast
was striking.
Read more on the Irish Examiner website
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/pressure-for-health-
study-of-air-corps-workers-454056.html

Despite the Ardrox 666 (Dichloromethane, Cresylic Acid &

Sodium Chromate) dripping down the wall from the
extractor fan and Ardrox 1074 (containing Hydrofluoric
Acid) dissolving the small barrel in the photo above, the
State Claims Agency & Air Corps still maintain we were
not exposed to toxic chemicals.
The Air Corps have also appealed a high court judgement,
directing them to tell survivors the list of chemicals to
which they were exposed, to the Court of Appeal.
The Government is facing pressure to commission a wide-ranging
health study on former Air Corps staff to establish if their working
conditions contributed to significant ill-health in some members.
The call for a health study, similar to one established in Australia to
examine the correlation between illnesses in its air force and their
members use of chemicals, comes following months of revelations in
the Irish Examiner.
Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin said he will raise the request in the
Dil, and said the Governments response to the scandal has been
deficient to date.
Mr Martins stance follows a recent meeting he and his party defence
spokeswoman Lisa Chambers held with a number of former Air Corps
staff.
The group, all in their 40s and 50s, listed the litany of illnesses they have
suffered since leaving the Air Corps, including rectal cancer, Hodgkins
lymphoma, heart attacks, autoimmune diseases, depression and
anxieties, solvent-induced encephalopathy, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease even among non-smokers.
All suffer significant health issues, Mr Martin said, describing the
encounter as a sad and often difficult meeting.
One has undergone five surgeries and is in constant pain. They all have
personal issues. One has had two heart attacks and in one instance was
kept alive by his wife and a first responder, said Mr Martin.
All were exposed to chemicals, and in at least one case, the person was
tubbed sat in a bath and doused in chemicals which was a ritual at
the time, he said.
I was taken aback at some of what they had to say, particularly about
not having protective clothing.
One told me that subsequent to his time at the Air Corps, he went into
private industry and couldnt get over the contrast in terms of the
attitude and directions for handling chemical spills and use of protective
suits. The contrast was striking.
Mr Martin said the men were not aware of any potential link until they
caught up with their former Air Corps colleagues via social media, or
until they read coverage of the issue in the Irish Examiner.
He said the men are now compiling a list of former technicians who are
suffering chronic illnesses or have died.
My own concern is that there has been a significant absence in
transparency, said Mr Martin.
He said his party would call for the publication of an independent report
on Air Corps whistleblower allegations which was recently presented to
the Department of Defence, along with all health and safety reports
into conditions at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
Mr Martin said similar experiences in Australia provide an example
Ireland can follow in tackling the issue.
We have to move from anecdotal examples to an evidence-based
study, he said.
We need a proper, urgent health study that contrasts Air Corps
technicians with the general population, he said.
In January, this newspaper revealed that three Air Corps whistleblowers
made protected disclosures alleging a number of shortcomings in the
management of health and safety issues in the technical stores in
Casement Aerodrome, where chemicals used in the cleaning and
maintenance of aircraft are deployed on a daily basis.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/pressure-for-health-study-of-air-corps-
workers-454056.html

Why did Irish Air Corps hang Minister for Foreign

Affairs Simon Coveney out to dry?
The Irish Examiner publisher a story this morning about a
meeting that Michel Martin & Lisa Chambers, of Fianna
Fail, had with survivors of the Irish Air Corps toxic
chemical scandal.

Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin said he will

raise the request in the Dil, and said the
Governments response to the scandal has been
deficient to date.
Mr Martins stance follows a recent meeting he
and his party defence spokeswoman Lisa
Chambers held with a number of former Air
Corps staff.
The group, all in their 40s and 50s, listed the
litany of illnesses they have suffered since
leaving the Air Corps, including rectal cancer,
Hodgkins lymphoma, heart attacks, autoimmune
diseases, depression and anxieties, solvent-
induced encephalopathy, and chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease even among non-smokers.
All suffer significant health issues, Mr Martin
said, describing the encounter as a sad and
often difficult meeting.
One has undergone five surgeries and is in
constant pain. They all have personal issues.
One has had two heart attacks and in one
instance was kept alive by his wife and a first
responder, said Mr Martin.
All were exposed to chemicals, and in at least
one case, the person was tubbed sat in a
bath and doused in chemicals which was a ritual
at the time, he said.
I was taken aback at some of what they had to
say, particularly about not having protective
clothing.
One told me that subsequent to his time at the
Air Corps, he went into private industry and
couldnt get over the contrast in terms of the
attitude and directions for handling chemical
spills and use of protective suits. The contrast
was striking.
Read more about Fianna Fail calls for an inquiry into
the Irish Air Corps toxic chemical scandal on the
Examiner website.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/pressure-for-
health-study-of-air-corps-workers-454056.html
Read the Irish Times article about Coveney
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-
news/coveney-challenged-pilot-who-refused-to-fly-
due-to-fog-forecast-1.3143597
Read The Journal article with Varadkar defending
Coveney (lots of views, lots of commentspopular
subject).
http://www.thejournal.ie/varadkar-coveney-questioned-
pilot-3479825-Jul2017
But hours later the Irish Times ran with an article, based
upon FoI requests that Simon Coveney as Minister for
Defence had questioned the professional judgement of an
Irish Air Corps pilot who cancelled a ministerial flight due
to a forecast of fog at their Cork destination.
Anyone familiar with the media will know that journalists
will seek an FoI, not on the off chance of discovering
something, but because they have been already briefed
that something exists. The journalists are rarely taking a
stab in the dark, they are following a scent. It also appears
that the Irish Times may be in possession of this
information for a number of weeks if not months (the
incident took place in June 2015) so the question must be
asked why was it not released previously.
It is significant that the Irish Air Corps have recently had a
change of management at the top of the organisation with
a new General Officer Commanding and a new Colonel.
By all accounts this new GOC is a smart operator and is
very politically aware.
So we wonder if it is possible that the Irish Times, who
have mostly ignored the toxic chemical scandal, were
primed with this story about Coveney? Like we said a
relatively minor story about a Minister unhappy his
ministerial flight was cancelled but a story that would be a
hot news topic and would displace other stories of the day.
Who had the most to gain from a story that diverted
attention away from the Irish Air Corps Health & Safety
scandal and towards a government minister?
Big bad Fine Gael Minister bullying Air Corps
pilotBOOO. Poor Air Corps turned into an
innocent victimHURRAH..What chemical
problem???
We would hope this is not the opening salvo in the
propaganda fightback by the new GOC Air Corps and his
management team. We hope it was not designed to keep
the Irish Air Corps chemical scandal out of the headlines
nor to mark the cards of Fine Gael and all serving
Ministers that the Air Corps may have dirt on them.
Now that Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe is in
possession of the long awaited report from the
independent 3rd party investigator, we sincerely hope
that the Irish Army Air Corps is not trying to influence &
interfere with the democratic process.

Air Corps: Concerns over scope of review of allegations made

whistleblowers
Concerns Wednesday, March 08, 2017
Joe Leogue

have been raised about the scope of the ongoing review of allegations made by Air Corps
whistleblowers. They claimed that staff were unnecessarily exposed to cancer-causing chemicals.
Last month, this newspaper revealed that the Health and Safety Authority threatened legal action
against the Air Corps, unless it improved its management of technicians exposure to toxic substances.

The report came in October 2016, almost a year after three whistleblowers made protected disclosures
to the Government about Air Corps technicians exposure to harmful substances.

The Irish Examiner can now reveal that the independent third party appointed to review the protected
disclosures, which were made between November 2015 and January 2016, has met with all three of the
whistleblowers.

One of the whistleblowers had a witness present at his session with the Government-appointed official
reviewing the claims, and invited Sinn Fin defence spokesman, Aengus Snodaigh, to attend the
meeting, which took place on Monday of last week.

Mr Snodaigh said that he is concerned that the official tasked with the review only has a remit to
investigate the handling of the whistleblowers complaints and not whether there were insufficient
safeguards in place for technicians working with dangerous chemicals, as suggested in the protected
disclosures.

The impression given in the Dil was that this would be an investigation, or at least a preparatory
investigation, of the claims the whistleblowers made, Mr Snodaigh said.

What is needed is a forensic investigation of these serious allegations by people with specialities in
health and safety and the treatment of chemicals. However, that does not seem to be within the remit of
this review.

The State is currently facing six legal claims from former Air Corps staff, who have claimed that their
chronic illnesses were caused by their working conditions in Casement Aerodrome.

Meanwhile, the Department of Defence has declined to reveal if further whistleblowers have come
forward, following comments made by Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe.

Responding to a parliamentary question from Cork North Central TD Mick Barry, Mr Kehoe said that
his office received further disclosures, in addition to the three whistleblowers complaints: My
department has received a further three disclosures, which, having been assessed, were deemed
protected disclosures under the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014. Of these, two have
been resolved and the third is ongoing. In addition, I am in receipt of a disclosure received on January
27, 2017, which is currently being assessed.

A spokesperson for the Department of Defence would not say if these disclosures were made by new
whistleblowers or were further disclosures by the original complainants.

Three disclosures, which are in the public domain, relate to allegations concerning health and safety in
the Air Corps. The minister has an obligation, under the Protected Disclosures Act, 2014, to protect the
identity of those making disclosures under the act.

Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment, in any way, on the identity or substance of any other
disclosures, the spokesperson said.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/air-corps-concerns-
over-scope-of-review-of-allegations-made-whistleblowers-
444620.html

Simon Coveney dismisses suggestions he tried to intimidate

pilot who refused to fly in fog
Thursday, July 06, 2017

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has rejected claims that he tried to intimidate a pilot who
refused to fly him to Cork for a meeting in 2015, because of fog.

The incident happened when Mr Coveney was Minister for Defence and emerged after internal emails
which show the Air Corps being "very unhappy" with the ministers intervention were made public
yesterday.
Speaking in the UK, where he was meeting with politicians in relation to Brexit, Mr Coveney said he
did not feel reports about the incident reflected the truth.

"That wasnt the situation," he told RT News. "Im a hands-on Minister in this brief like I have been
in all of the briefs that Ive held. Ive picked up the phone and Ive spoken to captains on ships in the
Mediterranean, Ive spoken to lead officers in the Golan Heights so I understand the issues that theyre
facing to make sure that we understand them.

"This was another example of a hands-on conversation that I would have had but it certainly was not an
attempt to influence a decision or to intimidate anybody. Anybody who knows me and has worked with
me would know that that is not my style. I am an energetic and at times forceful minister, but I drive
myself harder than anybody else that I work with and I have the utmost respect for the Defence Forces
and the decisions that they make.

"I have huge respect for the Defence Forces in Ireland and I think its regrettable that this story seems
to be telling a different story to that, which of course Im not happy about and I dont think reflects the
truth."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/simon-coveney-dismisses-
suggestions-he-tried-to-intimidate-pilot-who-refused-to-fly-in-fog-796695.html

Company Overview of Birmingham Airport Holdings

Limited
Executive Profile
Paul Kehoe Chief Executive Officer, and Director,
Birmingham Airport Holdings Limited
http://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person
.asp?personId=789213&privcapId=128488
Mr. Paul Kehoe has been Chief Executive Officer and Director of Birmingham
Airport Holdings Limited. Mr. Kehoe served as Chief Executive Officer of Bristol
International Airport Ltd. from May 7, 2007 to September 24, 2008. He served as
Managing Director of Belfast International Airport. He served as Chief Executive
Officer of Birmingham Airport Limited since October 2008. He served as
Managing Director of Belfast International Airport Limited. Mr. Kehoe served as
Chief Executive Officer of DX Services Limited since November 14, 2005. He
joined DX from a career in the Aviation and Business Services sectors. Mr. Kehoe
served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Airport Limited until September
24, 2008 and Sydney Airport Limited. Previously, he served as an Operations
Director of airports owner TBI Limited. Mr. Kehoe joined TBI Limited in August
1997 as Managing Director. He also served as Managing Director of London
Luton Airport Operations Ltd. since March 2001. He began his career in the RAF
and, before joining TBI Limited, he served as Managing Director of Serco's
aviation company and a Senior Manager of BAe Systems. He has been Non-
Executive Chairman and Director of Mantic Point Solutions Limited since August
2006. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Airport Operators Association since
March 2003. Mr. Kehoe serves as Director of Birmingham Airport (Finance) PLC.
Mr. Kehoe has been Director of European Airports since October 1999. He served
as a Director of London Luton Airport since March 2001 and as Executive
Director of TBI Limited from November 2001 to January 5, 2005. He served as
Non-Executive Director of Maxjet Airways Inc. until December 24, 2007. Mr.
Kehoe holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, a Bachelor of Science from
Leicester University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and has studied
Airport Planning at the University of Texas in Austin.

for the Safety of Air Navigation ... a new standard in respect of aircraft engine
CO 2 emissions which have been significantly ..

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:ec9e79f3-9ce9-11e5-8781-
01aa75ed71a1.0001.02/DOC_1&format=PDF

Pressure for health study of Air Corps workers

The Government is facing pressure to commission a wide-

ranging health study on former Air Corps staff to establish
if their working conditions contributed to significant ill-
health in some members.

Control Techniques for Carbon monoxide emissions

https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPDF.cgi/00001Z4I.PDF?Dock
ey=00001Z4I.PDF

Varadkar defends Coveney

amid reports he 'questioned
judgment' of Air Corps pilot
Simon Coveney called an Air Corps pilot to ask why he couldnt be
flown to Cork, its reported.
Wed 1:37 PM 20,394 Views 94 Comments
Share279 Tweet Email
Image: Shutterstock/urbazon
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has defended the conduct of
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, following a report
today that he questioned the judgment of an Air Corps pilot
who refused to fly him to Cork.
According to todays Irish Times, Coveney who was
Defence Minister at the time of the incident in question, in
2015 called the pilot after the morning flight was cancelled
due to a fog forecast.
The article, based on FOIs of emails between Defence
officials, says that the Air Corps was very unhappy at
Coveneys decision to call the pilot and question his
decision.
The Minister commented in the course of that call that he
had a very important meeting in Cork, one of the emails
said.
Speaking on his way into this mornings Cabinet meeting,
Coveney said:
I dont want to add to that story any further apart from to
say that I have total respect for the judgment of military
personnel whether they are in the Naval Service, the Air
Corps or the Army and I think my record [as Minister for
Defence] will show that.
Michel Martin raised the issue during Leaders Questions
in the Dil this afternoon, asking Varadkar whether his
cabinet colleague had apologised for the phonecall to the
pilot.
The Fianna Fil leader said safety should never be
compromised.

Varadkar, who defeated Coveney in the Fine Gael leadership

contest earlier this summer, defended the former Defence
Minister and said he did not think it was correct to describe
his behaviour as being intimidatory.
When it comes to aviation safety must come first, the
Taoiseach said.
As far as we are concerned safety always comes first and it
is always the pilots decision to fly, not the passenger, he
added.
Coveneys intention, he said, was just to ask a question
there is no suggestion that Minister Coveney or any minister
would try and second guess the judgement of a pilot.
When asked about the incident today, Education Minister
Richard Bruton said he did not know the details of the
conversation that took place, but reiterated what the
Taoiseach said in Dil today.
He was very clear that Minister Coveney may have asked
some questions, but at all times, as the Taoiseach said,
aircraft safety was the primary concern, Bruton told
reporters today.
When asked if it was normal protocol for ministers to use
Defence Force aircraft to travel to meetings, he said:
I dont know what the protocol As you know, we have
sought to use aircraft on a minimal basis, but at times they
are used. Of course a Minister for Defence is in a particular
privileged position in that he has responsibility and his
needs would be an important consideration.
In addition to holding the position of Taoiseach, Varadkar is
currently Minister for Defence too. Enda Kenny also held
both positions before his resignation as Taoiseach last
month. Paul Kehoe is the Minister of State with special
responsibility for Defence.
http://www.thejournal.ie/varadkar-coveney-questioned-pilot-3479825-
Jul2017/

Coveney challenged pilot

who refused to fly due to fog
forecast
Air Corps is very unhappy about Ministers behaviour
during the 2015 incident
Wed, Jul 5, 2017,

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney questioned the judgment of an

experienced Air Corps pilot who refused to fly him to Cork because of
predicted fog. Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney questioned
the judgment of an experienced Air Corps pilot who
refused to fly him to Cork because of predicted fog.
In an email between Department of Defence officials, the
Air Corps is described as being very unhappy about the
incident on June 17th, 2015, when Mr Coveney was
minister for defence. The incident began when Mr
Coveneys private secretary, Vincent Lowe, was told the
ministers early-morning flight to Cork had been
cancelled. The decision prompted tart exchanges
between the minister and the pilot, whom Mr Coveney
contacted directly, and later between the pilot and Mr
Lowe.
Details are captured in an email, obtained by The Irish
Times under the Freedom of Information Act, that were
written later that day by Department of Defence official
Cathal Duffy to Brian Spain, the director of defence,
based on conversations with Lt Col (now Col) Barry
Hanan.
The far-left is talking about a revolution but the way is
unclear
Fianna Fil canvassing machine clicks into a higher gear
Miriam Lord: Junckers MEP outburst disrupts bloc party
The [Air Corps] are very unhappy, wrote Mr Duffy.
The Minister phoned the pilot shortly after Vincent was
informed at 7.05am that the mission had to be
cancelled, wrote Mr Duffy.
The Ministers opening line was, I need to understand
why were not going to Cork. The pilot explained the
situation regarding fog in Cork but I am informed that
the Ministers tone was one of frustration and the
comment was made that he has a very important
meeting in Cork.
A sense was conveyed to the pilot that this is also your
problem, says the email. According to Barry, the pilot
is not happy about receiving this call and Barry stated
that from the [Air Corps] perspective they are not either
and they have never received such a call in 25 years.
Col Hanan was relieved the call had been taken by an
experienced Comdt pilot with 20 years experience who
is well able to hold his ground rather than a less
experienced pilot.

Later, Mr Lowe, presumably at the direction of the

Minister, phoned the pilot to say there was no fog in
Cork. This was seen by the pilot . . . as rubbing it in
and has added to their annoyance, said the email.
In late May, Mr Coveney was asked about the incident
but his spokeswoman said he would not comment.
Asked again yesterday, there was no response from his
spokeswoman.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/coveney-challenged-
pilot-who-refused-to-fly-due-to-fog-forecast-1.3143597
Calls for probe into Defence Forces inspection records

The Government is coming under increased pressure to

launch an investigation into missing Defence Forces
inspection reports which were allegedly destroyed.

The calls for an independent probe follow reports in the

Irish Examiner which revealed that junior defence minister
Paul Kehoe has ruled out any investigation into the
disappearance of health and safety reports from the air
corps, despite being told by a whistle-blower the
documents were deliberately shredded.
The State is being sued by six former air corps members
who claim their chronic illnesses were caused by their
exposure to toxic chemicals while working as technicians
in Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel.
The missing safety reports date back to the 1990s when
all six allegedly injured air corps members worked in
Baldonnel.
Despite both the Defence Forces and the Department of
Defence saying the reports cannot be found, opposition
politicians claim to have had sight of the documents and
say that they raise concerns as to the management of the
working environment in Casement Aerodrome.
Yesterday, this newspaper revealed that, in April, Mr
Kehoe received a protected disclosure alleging that a
named official ordered the shredding of the documents.
Despite this, Mr Kehoe last week told Sinn Fin TD
Aengus Snodaigh that he could only offer speculative
reasons as to why the reports are missing and ruled out
an inquiry into their disappearance.
Responding to this newspapers report yesterday, Fianna
Fil defence spokeswoman Lisa Chambers said
allegations the reports were deliberately destroyed in
order to cover up knowledge of health and safety
concerns were extremely serious.
http://www.accas.info/?p=773

Read more on the Irish Examiner website

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/calls-for-probe-into-
defence-forces-inspection-records-453434.html
From a political point of view, cowardice & incompetence. From a civil service
point of view, an appalling vista. From a management point of view arrogance
& incompetence.

They might try but this will not be covered up.

Blind Date Another human cost of the Irish Air Corps Toxic
Chemical Health & Safety scandal
For a very long time now both my mother and my sister have been
encouraging me to start writing a blog. Tell people your story, they said. I
never felt Id anything interesting to write. Well my mother pointed out
something interesting today. She said its been twenty years since the date
your eyesight went. I never really thought of myself as getting old, but twenty
years is a long time. How much has changed.

Back in 1996, I was 18 and in my second year as an apprentice with the Irish
Air Corps. I had joined up when I was 16 and with typical teenage brashness I
thought I was the shit. And sure why not. All Id ever wanted to do was serve.
After a youth watching Rambo, Top Gun and Hot Shots on an endless loop, I
had my whole career planned out. Alas it was not to be. Over a period of a few
weeks around March/April 1996 I started messing up a lot; maps upside
down, knocking over pints, not being able to read my writing, not saluting
officers, that sort of thing. I was also extremely fatigued.

I still remember the first trip to the medical aid post. Put your hand over your
right eye and read the chart, said Commandant Collins. Not a problem: Z W T
1 3 7 q e y. Easy. Now cover up your left eye and read the chart. OK, I said,
Can you put the chart back up please. After that the fun and games started.
After several trips to the medical aid post I found myself on rotation in and
out of the Eye and Ear. I had every type of blood and eye test done. Along with
an MRI I was being tested initially for a brain tumor and diabetes and then a
whole rake of other conditions Id never heard of at the time. They hadnt a
clue what was wrong. All this time the sight in my right eye was getting worse
and the sight in my left eye decided to start packing it in. Its hard to describe.
Blurry cloudy vision. Loss of sharpness with your central vision effected the
most. If you look at someone straight on from about a meter away, you can
make out their hands and legs but theyve no head. Beyond a meter people
become more like blurry colours moving around.

Although a total pain in the ass and not exactly what I wanted to be doing with
my life, these trips to the Eye and Ear were entertaining nonetheless. As
nobody knew what was wrong every doctor and med student wanted to poke
around my eyeballs. My friends from the Air Corps who would accompany me
on these trips would get rather jealous as a young pretty female med student
would bend over and look into my eyes with some strange instrument. Then
again they had a different view.

On another occasion though I was on my own. So what happens is youre put

in a big waiting room and given a raffle ticket. Take a seat your number will
be called. From what I remember I was the youngest person there. Everyone
else seemed to me at that time to be ancient. You have to really picture this
scenario. Its a room full of people with bad sight or bad hearing or because of
their age, both. A voice bellows from the top of the room No. 17 (it could
have been any number I cant remember). Hmm I think to myself, it might
have been handy if Id asked what number my ticket was. Theres a pause, a
bit of shuffling and mumbling. Half the people cant see their tickets and the
other half are asking did someone say something. No. 17 the voice from the
top of the room bellows again. I get a nudge on the arm from an old lady
beside me: Excuse me son what number ticket do I have. Absolutely comical.

On one of these trips to the Eye and Ear to get poked at again by so called
experts whod no idea what was wrong I was sitting in the waiting room when
I heard a nurse talking to an older man. I was positive I recognised his voice.
Getting up I went to the other end of the corridor. Uncle Danny, I said, Is
that you. (Uncle Danny was my mams uncle). It is, he said, whos that. Its
Wes, I said, theres something wrong with my sight. What are you here for?
My sights going too, he said with a worried sigh. Not being able to see each
other clearly we both could tell we were looking at each other and thinking
what the The nurse was thinking the same. She went off to get the doctor.

With the extended family brought in we discover we have a condition called

Lebers hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). At the time there was no test in
Ireland because it is a genetic condition. A cousin of my grandmother had
been clinically diagnosed with mutation 11778. After we told the doctor about
LHON I still remember the doctor taking down a book and blowing off the
dust. (Or at least thats my version of the account). Yes thats what you have.
Some of the cells in the optic nerve are dead and the signal isnt going to the
brain. Its a very rare condition. Personally Id have preferred to have won the
lotto.

**********
As mentioned in the above story Lebers Hereditary Optic Neuropathy
involves genetic mutations that can lead to blindness through optical nerve
mitochondrial depowering. One very interesting aspect to this disease is that
only a minority of persons with the mutation actually suffer blindness. The
breakdown by sex is that only 10% of females and only 40% of males with the
mutation go blind.

For years the trigger for the blindness was unknown but in the past 20 years
a number of trigger chemicals have been identified. One of these chemicals is
an Alkane known as nHexane and it is important to note that this chemicals
was involved in the intoxication & injury of 2 Air Corps technical personnel in
2015 that lead to the eventual Health & Safety Authority investigation.

Furthermore the neurotoxicity of nHexane is enhanced significantly in the

presence of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK). This is another chemical that was
also used without any precaution for decades in the Irish Army Air Corps.

It is important to also note that the person in the story above went blind
within two weeks of starting work in Engine Repair Flight (ERF). As an Air
Corps Apprentice he only had to spend 10 weeks work experience in this
location which were, unfortunately for him and others, life changing and
career ending. ERF and its associated Non Destructive Testing (NDT)
workshop (photographed below in 2007), were possibly one of the most
chemically toxic workplaces anywhere in Ireland.

This workshop was found to be 3 times over allowable limits for

Dichloromethane (DCM) in 1995 but personnel were not warned and it was
left operational for a further 12 years. During that time there were at least 5
adult deaths, at least 1 child deaths and and at least 2 children born with
severe genetic mutations that we believe were associated with chemical
exposures in this workshop alone. Chemicals in use were carcinogenic,
mutagenic & teratogenic.

The engineering officer who commissioned these air quality tests is still
serving in the Irish Army Air Corps in a senior role as is the engineering
officer who ordered the test results destroyed in later years.

Dil ireann Written

Answers 20/06/17
Defence Forces No
investigation into
missing reports

Aengus Snodaigh (Dublin South Central,

Sinn Fein)
To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will
instruct an independent third party to carry out an
investigation into the reason Forbairt inspection reports
dating from the 1990s cannot be found in view of his
departments failure to locate the Forbairt files and in
further view of the possible significance of these missing
documents; and if he will make a statement on the
matter. [26895/17]
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
As I indicated to the Deputy in my letter of 17 May 2017, I
was advised by the Military Authorities that there was a
report on measuring CO fumes from aircraft complied by
Forbairt in 1995 and a further report on monitoring air
contaminants in workshops in 1997, which was also
complied by Forbairt.
Unfortunately, following an extensive search and the
Military Authorities having consulted with Enterprise
Ireland (which superseded Forbairt) and having also
conducted a search within the Department it has not been
possible to locate these reports.
The military authorities have indicated that the Defence
Forces have neither a hard copy record nor an electronic
copy of the Forbairt Reports. The Military Authorities have
indicated that there are a range of potential causes for the
loss of the reports such as the changeover of electronic
recording systems in 2004 or that the reports were
misplaced over time. However this is purely speculative.
It is not proposed to have an independent third party carry
out an investigation into the reasons the Forbairt reports
cannot be found.
https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2017-05-
24a.677&s=
Air Corps controversy: Minister says reports on toxicity at
Baldonnel 'can't be found'

At least six people are taking action against the State

for alleged exposure to chemicals whilst in the Air
Corps.
May 19th 2017

REPORTS DETAILING THE levels of toxicity in the air at Baldonnel Airfield have disappeared,
TheJournal.ie can reveal.

A letter seen by this publication, which was sent to a TD, says two reports into the measurement of
potentially dangerous levels of carbon monoxide and other airborne toxins cannot be located by the
Defence Forces.

The letter from Paul Kehoe, Minister of State with responsibility for Defence, reads:

I have now been advised by the military that there was a report on measuring CO fumes from aircraft
compiled by Forbairt [which later became Enterprise Ireland] in 1995 and a further report on
monitoring air contaminants in workshops in 1997 which was also compiled by Forbairt.

In addition, an internal report was compiled by the Air Corps in 2014 in relation to a litigation case
and in 2017, an occupational air survey was carried out by an independent environmental services
company.

Unfortunately, following an extensive search and their having consulted with

Enterprise Ireland (which superseded Forbairt), I am advised by the military
authorities that it has not been possible to locate the earlier Forbairt reports.
The revelation has been met with frustration and outrage by a number of whistleblowers who say that
these reports hold vital information in relation to their cases.

Six men are suing the Air Corps as they allege they became sick from being exposed to chemicals at
Baldonnel.

One told TheJournal.ie: Were not exactly surprised by this. We are being met at every turn. There
are people who dont want certain things to see the light of day. How can important files like this just
go missing? Surely, theres someone who has to be culpable.

There are too many people who are affected by this. We think they were exposed to dangerous
chemicals. This is bigger than the six of us. There are hundreds of people, if not thousands this may be
affecting.

To tell us the files which can prove what we have been saying now are nowhere
to be found. Its all a bit convenient.

Earlier this week, we reported that two of the six men who are taking cases against the Air Corps have
developed cancer since starting the litigation.

A new protected disclosure, also reported by this publication last week, alleged that a number of
children of Air Corps staff have died as a result of being exposed to toxic chemicals.

A 2016 inspection by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) identified a number of shortcomings at
Baldonnel with corrective actions then taken by the Defence Forces in relation to how it handles such
chemicals.
According to the HSA report seen by TheJournal.ie, the Air Corps was warned it could face
prosecution if it did not comply with advice and relevant legal requirements about how hazardous
substances were managed, among other safety matters.

At least six former members launched legal proceedings against the State for negligence and Junior
Defence Minister Paul Kehoe has ordered an independent review of what happened at Baldonnel.

There has also been a separate controversy surrounding the appointment of Christopher OToole as the
independent assessor of the claims.

We revealed last month how the claimants have been left frustrated after finding out that OToole is a
former senior official at the Office of the Attorney General, one of the bodies which they are taking the
case against.

A statement from the Department of Defence read: The State Claims Agency is currently managing
six claims taken by former and current members of the Air Corps against the Minister for Defence for
personal injuries alleging exposure to chemical and toxic substances whilst working in the Air Corps in
Baldonnel in the period 1991 to 2006. Given these matters are subject to litigation, it would be
inappropriate to comment further.

http://www.thejournal.ie/missing-files-air-corps-3396802-May2017/

Alleged Air Corps chemical exposure victims call for

investigator to be replaced

Christopher OToole was a senior advisor to the

Attorney General a body named as the defendant in
court documents.
Jan 31st 2017,

AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSOR appointed to investigate claims of chemical abuse in the Air Corps
is a former senior advisor to the Attorney General, a body being pursued in court by the alleged
victims.
Six current and former members of the Air Corps are currently going through the State Claims Agency
after they alleged they were exposed to toxic chemicals while working for the Corps between 1991 and
2006.

Christopher OToole was appointed by Junior Defence Minister Paul Kehoe to independently assess
the claims.

However, the claimants have been left frustrated after finding out that OToole is a former senior
official at the Office of the Attorney General, one of the bodies which they are taking the case against.

Some of the Air Corps members now want OToole replaced.

The claimants feel his presence compromises the balance of the investigation.

The Air Corps members allege that they were subjected to a wide range of problems, including:

Zero chemical risk assessments

Zero health surveillance
Sick staff accused of malingering
Zero chemical training
Staff ordered to climb into trichloroethylene tanks without breathing
apparatus to clean sludge

All named parties said they suffered serious injuries from chemical exposure when they were working
at the Casement Aerodrome, Dublin, in the 90s.

They claim that Air Corps personnel contracted cancers, cardiovascular illnesses as well as serious
gastrointestinal problems due to the exposure.

In a statement to TheJournal.ie, The Department of Defence has defended Minister Kehoes actions.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg136.pdf

The independent third-party appointed by Minister Kehoe to investigate the protected disclosures is
Christopher OToole. Mr OToole is a former senior official of the Office of the Attorney General.
Therefore, the Minister is satisfied that no conflict of interest arises. In addition, you may wish to note
that as the Minister informed the Dil on Wednesday, the State Claims Agency is the body managing
the 6 claims taken by former and current members of the Air Corps for personal injuries alleging
exposure to chemical and toxic substances whilst working in the Air Corps in the period 1991 to 2006.

The cases of the soldiers, as first covered in the Irish Examiner earlier this month, are being supported
by a number of TDs

One is Sinn Fin TD Aengus Snodaigh who said it is worrying that the concerns of personnel were
dismissed when first raised with the Air Corps doctor in the 1990s and the potential dangers of working
with these chemicals were not explained nor more robust measures put in place to minimise the risk.