I have a personal yardstick by which to measure how long it has been since the Irish Examiner broke news of the scandal of the chemical exposures suffered by Air Corps personnel. We had revealed that Air Corps personnel were not properly protected from the dangerous, carcinogenic, chemicals with which they worked in Casement Aerodrome. The response from the Defence Forces and government was to evade questions, delegate responsibility, and ultimately shrug their shoulders. The Air Corps allegations were added to the terms of reference of this tribunal — but jaded campaigners understandably believe they were only thrown in as an afterthought, benefitting from the larger outcry over a different scandal. The number of deaths campaigners attribute to the Air Corps’ failings has grown to well over one hundred now.

Source: Irish Examiner March 12, 2026 01:17 UTC