Nuclear plant is 'terrorist target'

Ireland hopes to stop the Mox plant from going ahead

The development of a controversial nuclear fuel recycling plant at Sellafield would make an "attractive" terrorist target, the Irish Government has said.

The Mox plant can only serve to increase the attractiveness of subjecting Sellafield to terrorist attack

Michael McDowell
Irish Attorney General

Attorney General Michael McDowell called on the United Nations International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea to suspend Britain's decision to allow the £470m mixed oxide fuel (Mox) plant to go ahead.

At the start of a two-day hearing on Monday, he told the panel in Hamburg, Germany: "This is about protecting the Irish Sea from further radioactive pollution.

"Manufacture is also vulnerable to accident and the Mox plant can only serve to increase the attractiveness of subjecting Sellafield to terrorist attack."

'Lacks jurisdiction'

But in a written submission the UK argued that the tribunal "lacks jurisdiction in this matter".

The Irish Government is asking for an international arbitration tribunal to be set up under a UN provision to resolve the dispute.

Ireland is also seeking British guarantees that there will be no movement of radioactive material through Irish waters.

Cancer fears

Campaigners in the east of Ireland have alleged for years that the Cumbrian site is responsible for a higher-than-average cancer rate.

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has attacked the decision to go ahead with the Mox plant and many protesters have pointed out that Sellafield is closer to Dublin than to London.

But UK Government ministers argue that the scheme was justified because it would provide "significant economic benefits" and had a "net present value of £216m".

At the High Court in London last week, Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth failed to have the Mox plant's commissioning declared unlawful

The tribunal in Hamburg is expected to deliver its decision by 9 December.

Meanwhile, Irish Senator Fergus O'Dowd said he was setting up a coalition to bring together members of the European Parliament who are opposed to Sellafield in a joint campaign to have the plant shut down.