Barristers complain of health problems due to library dust

Members of the Law Library have complained to the Courts Service and Bar Council about the presence of dust in the Criminal Courts of Justice (CCJ) building on Parkgate Street, Dublin, which they say is making them sick.

The dust is understood to build up during the day before being sucked through the ventilation system at night. Some barristers are concerned that it is building up in the corners of the Law Library facilities on the sixth floor of the building.

“We haven’t definitively linked it. I’m not a doctor but when people come down here they’re getting chest infections and asthma-type things that they never had before,” said one barrister.

The Bar of Ireland has commissioned and paid for several reports into the air quality of the building, nearly all of which state there is no cause for concern.

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The system's manufacturer and other experts from France were also called in to examine the issue. They also reported no concerns.

However, one report by Environmental Efficiency, an engineering consultancy based in Bray, which tested a sample of dust from a ceiling tile, found it contained a high concentration of silicon and calcium. The dust was also shown to contain particles of metal and nylon or other fibres.

‘Potential to pose risk’

The report, which has been seen by The Irish Times, says the dust "has the potential to pose a risk to human health and should be controlled".

A Bar Council spokeswoman said it is seeking to immediately review the current housekeeping routine in light of the findings. “The Bar is continuing to positively engage with the Courts Service and a meeting to advance the recommended action regarding the housekeeping has been scheduled.”

Much of the dust is thought to be left over from the construction of the building. The 22-court complex, which was completed in 2010 at a cost of €140 million, was the largest courts project undertaken in Ireland since 1796.

The Bar of Ireland rents out a large area on the sixth floor for its library, which is used as office space by barristers.

A Courts Service spokesman said it has not seen the report so could not comment on its findings. However he said the building’s ventilation system was state of the art and there are no known issues of concern.

“Extract fans are also in place to facilitate air changes and to remove dust generated by activities or processes within the office area. Surveys of air quality in the CCJ have been conducted and found no issues of concern.”