Fear in the valley - Sequel

The cover story of the June issue of Magill was discussed at the meeting of South Tipperary County Council on 13 June. One local councillor pointed out that people in the area around the Merck Sharp and Dohme factory in Ballydine were worried that the council was not monitoring the factory. "We must bend over backwards to get results and to show people publicly whether it is damaging or not", he said. Another councillor pointed out that it was "never more necessary to have everything seen to be above board".

The meeting of the council was lobbied by a group of local farmers who were concerned about the factory. Senator Willie Ryan commented at the meeting: "They have said that the monitoring system was withdrawn and they say that it was the offices of the council who instructed that it be withdrawn. They are asking that it be restored. I think that is not a lot to ask."

The county manager for South Tipperary, Mr T.P. Rice, who is shortly to move to Limerick, said that the monitoring of the factory would continue if the Hanrahans would hand over information which they had refused to the council. One councillor, Dick Tobin, said: "Then we are doing nothing." "Neither are the people who want us to do something", replied the county manager for South Tipperary.

On June 9 the Minister for Agriculture was questioned by Tomas MacGiolla about Ballydine. The Minister said that his department has been dealing with the matter since 1981. He neglected to point out that in that year his department received 26 samples from John Hanrahan. Although they do not have the facilities here to test for toxic properties, they did not send the specimens abroad. They now want John Hanrahan to hand over his privately-commissioned research so they can examine it. John Hanrahan has no confidence in the Department of Agriculture. He is holding on to his information until his High Court case is heard.

Garret FitzGerald has been aware of the situation in Ballydine for some time. He is reported to be extremely concerned about it, as are several of his backbenchers. He has received an interim report on the situation there.

Since our report on Ballydine appeared the number of cattle deaths on John Hanrahan's farm has gone up to 115.