Alison Healy
A professional geologist has raised questions over the manner in which a €5 million investigation into animal deaths at Askeaton, Co Limerick, was carried out.
This follows a call from local farmers for an independent investigation of the State's handling of the inquiry. Farmers estimate 1,500 animals have died mysteriously in the past 10 years, with thousands more suffering illness.
The inquiry, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), did not pinpoint a single cause of the illness, but said the "most likely causes" were infection, nutrition and farm management.
Mr George Reynolds, a consulting geologist, raised concerns when he noted that the investigation did not test for the presence of uranium in the soil.
Uranium is a heavy metal, and can be toxic in large amounts. It is a mobile metal, and so can be taken up into soil, moisture and plants.
Mr Reynolds said he was not saying uranium caused the animal health problems, but he was curious why the EPA did not ensure that such an obvious test was done, particularly when the report referred to the typical ranges of the element.
He was involved in uranium exploration in the late 1970s/early 1980s, and was aware that uranium was known to occur in the black shale (dark clay rock) formation at Doolin in the neighbouring county of Clare.
He contacted the EPA last year to raise this issue, and indirectly received a response from Teagasc which carried out the soil samples for the report.
The senior scientist, Dr David McGrath, wrote that "we would have measured uranium at the time had we been able but, even had levels been elevated, it is difficult to see how this could help to explain what was occurring at Askeaton at that time".
Mr Reynolds said he was concerned that such an "expensive and protracted study should omit without adequate reason some of the elements that they themselves cite as possible toxins".
Yesterday, Mr Owen Carton, who co-ordinated the Teagasc element of the EPA-led report, said Teagasc had carried out a very thorough soil sample, but there was no evidence of black shale. If there was, further tests might have been initiated.
Mr Reynolds's comments were welcomed by the Cappagh Farmers' Support Group, who said they always believed the report contained "gaping holes". Group spokesman Mr Pat Geoghegan said it strengthened the case for an inquiry into the investigation.
A spokeswoman for the EPA said the agency stood over the report.