Gardaí seek return of radioactive material stolen in burglary

Gardaí and the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) have appealed for the urgent return of radioactive lightning preventers apparently stolen by thieves for their assumed scrap metal value.

The rods, which date back to the 1950s and 1960s, were stolen in a burglary from premises on Balheary Rd, Swords, north Dublin, at the weekend despite being in a warehouse bunker storage area believed to be secure.

The red box the material was contained in has radiation warning signs.

The material was intended for export to be made safe and while has the appearance of aluminium of stainless steel has no scrap metal value.

The devices were once fitted to church spires to prevent damage in the event of a lightning strike, although the science behind them was never proven.

Chief executive of the RPII, Dr Ann McGarry said it was “vitally important” the material is located as soon as possible.

“I would also appeal directly to the people who have stolen these,” she said.

“They may have no idea what it is that they have in their possession or they may have discarded them somewhere. If that is the case then I would ask them to contact us, so that we can recover the items as soon as possible.”

The radiological institute has warned that several hours standing beside the box the conductors are contained in would expose a person to a higher level of radiation than regarded as safe for a year.

“If they were handled that would leave radium on the person’s clothes and hands and that would be even more serious,” a spokesman for the institute said.

Radium is a cancer causing agent.

Each of the stolen conductors is described by gardaí as similar in size to a dinner plate with a short spike sticking from each.

The “plate” sections are fitted with small squares of radioactive radium or americium around the size of a postage stamp.

“The idea is that they would ionise the air and encourage lightning to strike,” said the RPII spokesman, adding under no circumstances should the material be abandoned by those who stole it.