27/04/2012

An explosion that killed one employee and seriously injured another at a chemical plant was described as one of the worst in the history of the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland.

Cork Circuit Court heard an ambulance that carried a body from the scene was so “chemically contaminated”, it was decommissioned afterwards.

The sentencing hearing against Corden Pharma Ltd, trading as Corden Pharmachem, will continue before Judge Patrick J Moran today.

Michael Boylan, an inspector with the Health and Safety Authority, said the accident happened at 1.20am on Apr 28, 2008, at the company’s plant at Little Island, Co Cork.

At the time, 150 people worked there but, that night, five employees and a security contractor were present. The company now employs nine people in research and development and non-manufacturing activities at a different location.

Liam Nodwell was killed in the explosion and Jimmy O’Sullivan was injured. Mr Boylan described it as one of the worst accidents since the pharmaceutical industry started. Debris from the accident was found 150 metres away.

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