The SDLP MP for South Down, Mr Eddie McGrady, has voiced his concern about revelations that safety records were falsified at the Sellafield nuclear plant.

He said the news cast doubt upon the integrity and openness of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd and clearly showed the nature of the untrustworthiness of Sellafield and its management.

"Only last September, I indicated my deep concerns about the revelations announced at that stage concerning the falsification of safety records in respect of a consignment of reprocessed uranium and plutonium fuel to Japan. At that stage, I thought that that was a one-off incident but I am deeply concerned about the ongoing falsification of safety records data since 1996.

"In such circumstances, the only permanent solution to this environmental time-bomb is an immediate decision to run down the plant at Sellafield and to close and seal it forever. That is what the communities on this side of the Irish Sea demand now," Mr McGrady said.

His party colleague, Mr P.J. Bradley, MLA for the same area, called on every council in Ireland to ensure it was represented at a conference on nuclear hazards in Newcastle in April.

"The Newcastle event should be used to firm up an all-Ireland campaign against the pollution of the Irish Sea. The conference will be attended by elected representatives from both the UK and Ireland and should have as its prime aim the ultimate closure of the Sellafield nuclear plant. No doubt the falsification of the plutonium data will also be the subject of lengthy discussion at the conference."