‘This has all been a hush hush job’

THE full extent of potentially toxic contamination on a 27-acre site in Cork is only now being revealed, despite a risk assessment carried out for the Government six years ago.

Sub-contractors engaged last year to clean-up the former Irish Steel site at Haulbowline Island said yesterday that they were unaware that more than 500,000 tonnes of hazardous material in surface lagoons and contained within the former steel works location.

However, a detailed investigation of the site was completed six years ago and found a “high” likelihood of “severe” health risks to the local community.