Eight people exposed to 'chemical agent' at Limerick college are isolated in hospital

Technological University of the Shannon's main building was evacuated at about 11am as 'complaints of a possible irritant in the air' were investigated

A source said some of those brought to the hospital by ambulance complained of 'burning throats and watery eyes' after it appeared they had been exposed to an invisible irritant at TUS.

Eight people who may have been exposed to a “chemical agent” at the Technological University of the Shannon in Moylish, Limerick, were kept under observation and separated from other patients at University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

A total of nine people, including TUS students and staff, are understood to have suffered irritations to their eyes and a burning sensation in their throat leading to the evacuation of part of the campus at 11am on Wednesday.

Seven patients were taken by ambulance from the university campus to UHL, an eighth person self-presented at the hospital, and a ninth person was assessed by paramedics at the scene.

A fleet of HSE ambulances and tenders attached to Limerick City and County Fire and Rescue Service responded to the scene, and investigations into the cause of the incident are continuing.

“As the patients in question may have been exposed to an as-yet-unknown chemical agent, they were cohorted and kept under observation in a designated area separate from but adjacent to the ED proper,” said a spokesman for the UL Hospitals Group.

“A total of eight patients presented to the Emergency Department at UHL following an incident at the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) campus at Moylish, Limerick”, it said.

“Seven patients were conveyed to the Emergency Department by ambulance and another self-presented. Patients were re-triaged on arrival and have been reassessed.

"A ninth patient was assessed at the scene by the Alternative Pre-Hospital Pathway (APP) service, a collaboration between the National Ambulance Service and UL Hospitals Group.” 

Hospital sources said the hospital’s major emergency plan swung into action to provide emergency response to the casualties brought in from the scene.

“Staff at the Emergency Department regularly take part in training exercises and drills in the event of such an incident.

"All the patients are stable and all but one have been discharged from hospital as of 3.30pm,” the hospital group said.

A spokeswoman for the Technological University of the Shannon said its Moylish Campus main building was “evacuated” at approximately 11am “as members of Limerick Fire Service investigated complaints of a possible irritant in the air in one part of the building”.

No source was found for the irritant and the fire service advised that the main building could re-open from 2.30pm, the spokesperson added.

A source familiar with the incident said people at the campus had complained of a strange odour before experiencing a burning sensation in their throats.

“They could not see it but they could smell it, it could have been far more serious and everyone who was taken to hospital is being looked after,” the source said.

More than 1500 students are registered across seven TUS campuses across the country.