Government denies depleted uranium ammunition claims

UTV Live
Feb. 11, 2006

The Government has denied claims that depleted Uranium ammunition is being transported through Shannon Airport on U.S. military cargo planes destined for Iraq.

The allegation was made by a Former U.S. Marine who claims he used the ammunition when serving in Iraq as a Platoon Sergeant.

Jim Massey says the Irish Government is aware that the cargo is carried through Shannon.

"You would have to be a fool. Any person that has ever spent time within the military whether it`s British, Irish or American forces knows that Shannon airport is a main hub for military activity as far as deploying troops, as well as ammunition. It`s a known fact that all of the cargo supplies, munition goes through Shannon and then re-routes toward Iraq."

However, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs says there`s no basis for this allegation.

He says the Department has never received a request from the U.S Government to transport depleted Uranium ammunition and if such a request was made, it would be denied.

The spokesperson says the Department of Foreign Affairs has been given specific assurances that all cargo going through Shannon Airport is in accordance with nternational law.