Wake-up call on hazardous materials

IN the aftermath of the fire that gutted an industrial complex in Cork, forcing hundreds of people on the northside of the city to move from their homes, concerns have arisen over the storage of hazardous materials in built-up areas.

Following an anonymous tip-off that radioactive material was possibly stored in a warehouse at the old Sunbeam complex, there was understandable confusion and fear in the locality that the blaze could trigger radioactive contamination.

Thankfully, those fears were groundless. Seemingly, the material was removed when the company using the substance left the site.