Sellafield threat - Access deal step in right direction

THE landmark agreement, ensuring that Britain and Ireland co-operate in the event of a "significant" nuclear incident is, on the face of it, a positive twist in the long-running row between the two governments over the Sellafield threat to this country.

But the deal is sure to raise fears that Ireland could be muzzled in its campaign to shut down the controversial facility, which has a long history of accidents.

Thanks to discharges from Sellafield, the Irish Sea became the most radioactive body of water in the world. What the nuclear industry euphemistically terms "incidents" are also alleged to have caused cancer black-spots on Ireland's east coast.