Asbestos fear sparks town lockdown

THE centre of a Co Limerick town was still cordoned off last night amid a huge asbestos scare.

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said it is carrying out an investigation into why it wasn’t informed that a building in Rathkeale with asbestos roofing was being demolished.

It sent inspectors to the scene.

Two units of the Co Limerick fire service yesterday moved in to dampen down asbestos rubble at the site of the old People’s Bakery several days after the building was levelled.

Limerick County Council ordered all work on the site to cease immediately.

Huge traffic diversion were also put in place to keep people away from the site at Well Lane.

County Council spokesman Eugene Griffin said: “We have called in experts to advise us on the situation. But we have stopped all movement of material on the site.”

HSA spokesman Angus Laverty said by law. It has to get 28 days’ notice when demolition work involves any structure that hasasbestos.

He said it has to be satisfied that the work is to be carried out by a competent contractor and it also has to assess issues arising from the removal of asbestos material due to the dust it generates.

He said: “As far as we know we did not get this notice in relation to work being carried out in Rathkeale. That is a key issue.”

Local Fine Gael TD Dan Neville, whose constituency office is near the scene, has called for an immediate investigation. He went to the scene yesterday on learning of local concern.

Mr Neville said: “I understand there was a lot of asbestos in the building which was knocked overthe weekend. I am calling for a major investigation as there are health issues involved.”

Local sources said last night that residents contacted the authorities after demolition work got under way in recent days.

Road cordons were still in place last night as the different agencies decide on what steps they now intend to take.