Cobh's toxic dump - photos

cork | environment | feature Friday July 04, 2008 20:23 by John Jefferies jefferiesjj at hotmail dot com Cobh (086) 300 4573

For almost a week now the media has been full of stories about toxic waste found at the former Irish Steel (aka Irish Ispat) site on Haulbowline, including the statistical evidence that Cobh town, a few hundred metres away, has a cancer incidence rate which is 44% above the national average.

These photos were taken at 8.45am Thursday morning, 3rd July - there appeared to be one person on site at the time (see photo below). However life and work continued as usual at the naval base next door, in Cobh town and Ringaskiddy. Photo 5 shows the now levelled site of the old furnace hall which is the large building shown on some television reports - also the proximity of this to the main Naval Mess Hall and playing pitches on Haulbowline - and the National Maritime College at Ringaskiddy (photo background).

I will let the photographs speak for themselves. I had to reduce the resolution somewhat to comply with Indymedia posting guidelines but they are clear testament of the seriousness of the situation.

Cobh's Pier Head (foreground) shows how close it is to town

Fenced off areas on slag heap - are these the toxic zones?

More fenced off areas - arrow shows worker on site today (3/7/08)

Levelled site of old furnace hall