Medical waste washes up on shores of Cork harbour

A major investigation has been launched after medical waste including tablets, urine specimen bottles, and used syringes — some clearly displaying the names of patients — washed up on the shores of Cork harbour.

Cork County Council’s waste enforcement unit started the investigation after a man living in the lower harbour area said he had seen medical waste washing up during the past year close to the former IFI site at Marino Point and also along the shoreline by Fota Wildlife Park.

The man, who lives in the Passage West area, took pictures of some of the latest waste and contacted county mayor Seamus McGrath about the issue.