Residents of Cork’s lower harbour have “no faith” in Indaver to ensure a proposed incinerator would be safe in the event of an explosion or fire.

Fortnightly analysis of emissions from a proposed incinerator does not constitute “continuous monitoring”, leaving locals potentially exposed to unsafe dioxin levels, an expert in industrial process instrumentation has warned.

Babies in buggies, grannies in geansais emblazoned with the slogan ‘No to toxic waste incineration’, hazmat suits, and lots of surgical masks — the carpark of the Carrigaline Court Hotel resembled a bizarre mix of playground fare and the post-apocalyptic as hundreds of people protested against plans to build an incinerator locally.

On the eve of an oral hearing into plans for an incinerator in Ringaskiddy, Co Cork, the man driving the project for the past 16 years has admitted to “feeling sorry” for the residents of the area.