Askeaton inquiry 'must be reopened'

THE Labour Party's Agriculture spokesperson Dr Mary Upton last night called for a spate of mysterious health problems in Limerick to be investigated again.

Askeaton locals claim cancer levels in the area are three times the national average and hundreds of animals have died inexplicably in the past decade.

Dr Upton, an experienced scientist, met with farmers in Askeaton yesterday to see the difficulties first hand.

"I think there has to be a re-examination of what's happened here and what's continuing to happen," she said. "I met one man today who told me he has lost 200 animals in the last 10 years."

The controversial and inconclusive €5.32 million EPA-led investigation into the Askeaton health scares must also be reviewed, Dr Upton believes. "I don't think the problems can all be attributed to bad farming. Although it's difficult to do, the EPA investigation must be examined," she said.

Dr Upton said she is going to study all the facts about Askeaton and raise the issue again soon.

"The visit was a fact-finding mission and I will look at everything I've heard," she said.

Dr Upton described the loss by the Mid Western Health Board (MWHB) of vital blood samples, which could have unravelled the health problems, as "extraordinary".

An MWHB inquiry found that these samples, taken from the Geoghegan family, were lost though a combination of "human and system error".

The Cappagh Farmers Support Group (CFSG) last night welcomed Dr Upton's visit to the area. "All the families here want is for the truth to emerge. We are glad that Dr Upton has spoken to us," said CFSG spokesperson Pat Geoghegan.