Soldiers to challenge toxic disposal

SOLDIERS representatives said yesterday they had been left in the dark about a hazardous operation to destroy batches of hydrogen cyanide in the Wicklow mountains on an army firing range.

PDFORRA, which represents rank and file soldiers, intends to contact Department of Defence officials over plans to dispose of the lethal chemical.

“We would be concerned. We’re not sure they have satisfied themselves entirely that this will be far away from where soldiers might be or work,” PDFORRA general secretary Gerry Rooney said. “There could be soldiers in the site after the burn. We must be satisfied there will be no dangers.”