Report into premature deaths of air corps personnel to be given to defence minister in two weeks

More than 20 air corps personnel are taking cases amid claims they were exposed to hazardous chemicals while working for the air corps and not provided with personal protective equipment or training in the use of hazardous chemicals

Research into air corps deaths is due to be presented to the minister for defence in two weeks' time.

Helen McEntee has told Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh the research has been conducted by Department of Defence officials.

She said she had received an initial brief from officials on health and safety in the air corps and was expecting a detailed report from them by the end of March.

“I understand the report will contain information regarding mortality rates of serving or former members of the air corps” she told Mr Ó Snodaigh, who has been campaigning on behalf of victims of toxic poisoning in the air corps since 2017.

“I will take the time necessary to consider this detailed report and determine the most appropriate next steps.

“This will likely involve additional stakeholder engagement, in particular with the State Claims Agency as the body with statutory responsibility for the management of the existing litigation where allegations of harm in the air corps have been pleaded.” 

She said it may also be necessary to seek the views of the Attorney General.

"However as I have not yet had the opportunity to review the material, I cannot yet confirm what the most appropriate course of action will be.”

Attention on the issue has been heightened not just due to a growing number of premature deaths believed to be related to exposure to deadly chemicals in the air corps, but also the growing number of men suing the State over it.

More than 20 are taking cases amid claims they were exposed to hazardous chemicals while working for the air corps and not provided with personal protective equipment or training in the use of hazardous chemicals.

Many worked with chemicals used to clean and spray paint engine parts.

Public health expert Professor Anthony Staines told the air corps two years ago there needed to be an in-depth look at premature air corps deaths.

This was, at the time, based on a list of about 112 premature deaths of serving and former air corps personnel collated by toxic poisoning campaigner Gavin Tobin.

The former air corps technician’s list has since grown to 115, after a further 296 deaths were added to Mr Tobin’s list after further research by the Irish Examiner.

Last month, Professor Staines said there were grounds for an in-depth examination into 411 deaths of serving and retired air corps personnel.

He said there were indications the death rates among the personnel — about 200 of whom died under the age of 65 between 1980 and 2026 — appear to be “excessively high”.

Mr Ó Snodaigh said it should not have taken ex-members of the air corps like Mr Gavin to carry out “heart-breaking” research into premature deaths.

That work, he said, should have been carried out by the air corps years ago.

“Hopefully, this answer from the minister signals a new, and proper approach to the men and women whose ill-health was a consequence of health and safety failures," he said.