Museum chiefs 'lucky' nobody died in staircase collapse

Museum chiefs tonight admitted they were “very lucky” no-one had died after 11 people were injured when a limestone staircase collapsed underneath them.

The group of science teachers and staff were taking part in a training course at the Natural History Museum in central Dublin when the incident occurred at 11.30am.

As an immediate health and safety probe got underway, National Museum of Ireland director Dr Pat Wallace tonight said he had fears other parts of the Merrion Square building may be structurally unsound.

“We are very lucky, thank God,” he said at the scene of the museum, which has 10,000 animals on display.

He confirmed the incident occurred in a part of the building not normally open to members of the public.

Dr Wallace said the facility will be closed for at least two weeks while a full safety audit is carried out by the Health and Safety Authority (HAS) and an incident team based at the museum.

When asked if he had fears other parts of the building were structurally unsound, he replied: “Obviously I have.”

Many of those taken to hospital suffered crush injuries or open wounds, according to Dublin Fire Service spokesman Greg O’Dwyer.

“The stone cantilever staircase was leading from the ground floor to the first floor collapsed,” he said.

“The injured were found among the rubble and were immediately taken by ambulance to three hospitals at St James’, St Vincent’s and the Mater.”

He added: “We had planned a big programme of refurbishment for the building - mainly a modernisation scheme but keeping the ambience of the mid-19th Century. Obviously that is back in the melting pot now.

“The safety audit will be a major part of the approach to changing the museum.”

The building, which is located on the edge of Merrion Square beside Government Buildings, dates back to the 1850s.