O’Dea urged to move staff away from toxic waste

THE Defence Forces’ representative body, PDFORRA, has written to Defence Minister Willie O’Dea, urging him to move navy personnel away from a toxic slag heap in Cork harbour.

PDFORRA general secretary Gerry Rooney said his members at the naval base in Haulbowline were very concerned about their health, following revelations that toxic waste, including the deadly carcinogenic chromium 6, is present in the slag heap.

“Some of our people are working within 10 metres of the slag heap and we want them moved away from it, towards the other side of the island,” Mr Rooney said.