Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 3

Written Answers. - Army Training and Safety Procedures.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

102 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on recent accidents in the Glen of Imaal; the connection, if any, there is to the accident in Kilworth, County Cork; if the same equipment was in use in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23246/97]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

On 9 December last, during the course of a shoot in the Glen of Imaal involving two mortars, a misfire occurred on the firing of the sixth high explosive mortar bomb. Misfire drills were successfully carried out. As a precautionary measure, the weapons were inspected after the firing of each of the next ten rounds. As nothing unusual was reported it was decided to resume the shoot and from then on to inspect the weapons after the firing of the fifth round from each one. Another misfire occurred on the firing of the twenty fourth mortar bomb. The misfire drills were carried out but the bomb remained in the barrel. Because of declining light the Ordnance Officer decided to remove the bomb from the barrel the next morning and this was successfully done. Misfires are not uncommon and are provided for in the mortar training syllabus. The second misfire in this case was somewhat unusual only in that the bomb was not successfully removed from the barrel during the initial misfire drill. An Ordnance Officer was on site to deal with any matters arising.

Both the incident in the Glen of Imaal and that which occurred at Kilworth Firing Range, County Cork, occurred on the same date viz. 9 December 1997. The weapon type was the same in each case. The mortar bombs were the same type and lot number in each case. It should be noted that between 1 October 1997 and 8 December 1997, 416 mortar bombs of this lot number were fired and only one misfire was reported.

A Court of Inquiry has been established which will inquire into the incident at Kilworth and will make recommendations on all relevant procedures relating to the firing of the weapon. Safety procedures for military exercises are constantly reviewed and the current regulations were in place during these exercises. These regulations provide for the testing of personnel in basic skills before firing. They include safety precautions and misfire drills. Pending the outcome of the Court of Inquiry referred to previously, no firing exercises using the weapon type involved in these incidents will be conducted by the Defence Forces.