Air Corps deaths linked to hazardous chemicals may feature in tribunal of inquiry

Members of Women of Honour (left to right) Yvonne O'Rourke, Diane Byrne, Honor Murphy and Roslyn O'Callaghan ahead of today's meeting with Tánaiste Micheál Martin at Government Buildings. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Premature deaths of former and serving Air Corps personnel, linked to hazardous chemicals, may now feature in the forthcoming Defence Forces tribunal of inquiry, according to the Women of Honour.

They met Tánaiste Micheál Martin in Dublin and were given a new draft set of terms of reference for the forthcoming Defence Forces tribunal.

The previous terms of reference had not referred to health and safety issues in the Air Corps.

However, they had featured in the Independent Review Group Report into the Defence Forces earlier this year.

The IRG investigators had heard Air Corps personnel were exposed to hazardous chemicals and that this may have contributed to a substantial number of the estimated 105 premature deaths of serving and former Air Corps personnel.

Most of them died in the past 15 years from cancer or heart-related diseases, and most had been men in their 40s and 50s.

Diane Byrne, who helped set up the WoH group, said: “We had a good meeting and the Tánaiste agreed to engage further with us.

“We have received a draft version of a new set of terms of reference. On the face of it, it would appear as if issues such as the use of chemicals in the Air Corps feature are now included.” 

The Tánaiste agreed to re-engage on issues of concern to the WoH after what they described as a “frank” meeting with him in November.

The IRG report in March had recommended there should be a statutory investigation into issues raised in the investigation of complaints concerning the use of hazardous chemicals and health and safety issues in the Air Corps.

But there was no mention of the Air Corps and chemical issues in the first terms of reference.