RTÉ Prime Time examined the alleged exposure of former Air Corps technicians to hazardous chemicals during the 1990s, in a segment that included contribution from Michael Boylan LLP's Ciara McPhillips.
Former Air Corps personnel, including Gavin Tobin and Gary Coll, said they had worked with hazardous chemicals without adequate protective equipment or training. Toxicological expert Professor Vyvyan Howard described diffuse damage to the brain and organ harm arising from exposure to organic solvents. Internal Air Corps reports from 1992 had acknowledged inadequate safety measures, yet the State denied responsibility for more than a decade.
Gary Coll ultimately settled his case for €2 million, with no admission of liability, following an eleven-year legal battle. Approximately twenty other former personnel are pursuing similar cases through the courts.
The relevant Prime Time segment runs from 17:22 to 20:44, watch on RTÉ Player / Prime Time.