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A DEFENCE FORCES whistleblower has made a protected disclosure alleging that a number of children of Air Corps workers have died as a result of being exposed to toxic chemicals at Baldonnel Airfield.
In a document seen by this publication, a Defence Forces whistleblower has said that he has uncovered “the untimely deaths of at least 20 adults…of which I believe died of illness related to unprotected chemical exposure”.
The protected disclosure details the rank and specific illness of each of those who have passed away. We are not publishing these details as to do so would breach data protection rules.
There are also claims that the partners of male members of the force suffered serious fertility issues and a number of miscarriages. Other children, according to the protected disclosure, are living with life-changing illnesses.
It has previously been alleged that the Defence Forces failed to protect workers from exposure to harmful chemicals which have been proven to cause various cancers and autoimmune diseases.
In his address to 17 people, including Ministers, TDs, senators and a senior member of the Defence Forces, the former Air Corps mechanic claims that: “I have come across several personnel whose wives have had multiple miscarriages both in serving and in retired personnel. In one case, a retired member’s wife had eight miscarriages in succession. I am also aware of three personnel who shared in an office in ‘photo section’ (area of Baldonnel’s engineering wing) whose wives all had a miscarriage in the same six-month timeframe.”
In another worrying claim, the latest protected disclosure details the illnesses contracted by children of those who served in the Air Corps at Baldonnel.
The whistleblower, with the permission of the children’s parents, has claimed that :
It has been alleged that there was a systematic failure on the part of the Defence Forces which allowed Air Corps personnel be exposed to harmful chemicals during his time at Baldonnel. The Defence Forces, which are facing legal action by some former employees, have said, “Given these matters are subject to litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”
TheJournal.ie has obtained a detailed list of chemicals which were purchased for use by the Air Corps. These include the highly toxic Ardrox 666 and Ardrox 670.
Other chemicals which have been used at Baldonnel include:
All these chemicals have been proven to cause serious damage to humans after long-term exposure.
When asked to specifically comment on the new accusations in relation to fertility matters, a statement from the Department of Defence stated: “In September 2016, the Minister appointed an independent third party to review allegations made in a number of protected disclosures relating to health and safety issues in the Air Corps which were received in late 2015 and early 2016.
“Once a final review is to hand, the Minister will determine any further steps required and ensure that all recommendations, whether arising from the work of the Health and Safety Authority or the ongoing protected disclosure review, will be acted upon to ensure the safety of the men and women of the Air Corps. It would be inappropriate to comment in advance of the Minister receiving and considering the report.”
Earlier this year, TheJournal.ie reported how a large number of Air Corps members have experienced brain inflammations, Crohn’s Disease, cardiac arrest, ulcerative colitis and leukaemia.
The general secretary of the representative association for Defence Force members, PDFORRA’s Gerry Rooney, has said that chemicals and their use have been a problem for defence forces worldwide.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, he said that the representative association is working closely with all the whistleblowers and said that attitudes within the force would have to change if better health and safety practices were to be implemented.
“There’s a tendency in military organisations to focus on carrying out the operation at all costs.
“It’s fairly clear there was a problem with chemicals and their use.”
Sinn Féín TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh has accused junior Justice Minister Paul Kehoe of being indifferent “to the plight of the Defence Forces”.
The Dublin South Central TD said: “His claims that the health and wellbeing of members of the Defence Forces are a priority for him, contrasts with his refusal to ban the anti-malaria drug Lariam, despite the fears that it has caused severe mental and physical side effects on serving and retired soldiers.
“Equally serious are the protective disclosures that have been made by retired Air Corps personnel in recent months, whose revelations about a lack of even the most basic health and safety procedures at Casement Aerodrome are alarming. Their claims that exposure to highly toxic chemicals has resulted in serious health complications, and in some cases fatalities, to personnel performing their duties from as far back as the 1990s have largely fallen on deaf ears.”
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Having read the article it sounds like Aine is very well taken care of indeed and lucky to live in a country that funds a PA, her medical needs, an income and gives her a purpose built house. We bash our service providers but Mayo County and the taxpayer deserve some credit here.
i agree that it is good to be able to live in a small town like belmullet with MS, so well done to her for getting on with normal life. By the way, don’t the IASE or IWA have a bus available for getting around if you need to get to work?
Having access to a PA for 14 hours a week is not a lot to be honest. 2 hours a day…..
@Kerry Blake: That’s nothing.
She is one of the lucky ones. My adult son requires full time care. This week he gets 6 and a half hours outreach from his wonderful team. That’s over 160 hours that fall to me to provide his care. He gets 188 DA, which doesn’t nearly cover his expenses, free travel, and a medical card, which he fortunately rarely uses. Even so, I consider him lucky too. At least he has outreach, some don’t even have that. However, without financial assistance from family, I don’t know how we would cope. As for his future, his care is only assured as long as I live and am healthly enough to provide it myself. Chances are he will outlive me. I hope he will, yet I exist constantly in the dread of what will happen then.
Keep up the good fight girl…
Something as simple as a proper bus stop to access the bus is just a simple way to show the contempt the government has for its disabled!! Shame. I wonder will Minister McGrath sort out the one thing even?
How much longer do people with disabilities have to wait before our government get how difficult a life they have without enough state help, they seem to find money to waste on other useless projects e.g. exerting being one that springs to mind 50 million wasted
I’m sure the €6000 pay rise they gave themselves eases their minds
Disabled persons and their families are in for a land when their adult child moves to a nursing home as young as 60 or when the elderly parents die.
Nursing home residents under the Fair Deal are only allowed a meagre €6.34 a day to cover their personal extras while those with disabilities living in residential care settings are, rightly, allowed keep a guaranteed minimum pocket money of at least €118 a week or €16.85 a day.
This small sum needs to cover all the sundries not supplied by the nursing home. Taxis to medical appointments and an escort nurse can result in bills of €70 for each visit. Shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, tissues, non- prescription medicines, own bottles of soft drinks, sweets or treats are essential extras. Plus new clothes and shoes replacements or repair. And mobile phone bills and radio replacement or repair. Not to mention maybe a daily newspaper or magazine of choice, and even small birthday or Christmas presents for friends or carers if residents wish to give a small token of thanks. Many attend a day centre, costing around €7 a day with lunch – and well worth it for vital socialisation- but added to this cost is a taxi each way unless volunteer drivers and relatives can provide lifts weekly. Nursing homes charge for their own activities programme and sadly this too is out of the reach of the resident with Fair Deal pocket money.
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