Solicitor calls for all naval ships to be grounded and checked for asbestos

A solicitor has demanded all Naval Service ships should be immediately grounded and checked for asbestos.

Ernest Cantillon, who has represented dozens of asbestosis victims over the past 30 years, said the potentially lethal substance has been “banned in virtually all developed countries” and should be removed from the vessels.

The Cork-based lawyer is representing 10 people who belive they have been exposed to the substance, through their work on naval ships, and will have an agonising wait, possibly of even up to 40 years, to see if they develop asbestosis.