A radiation warning sign in the so-called Red Forest, one of the most radioactive areas in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, Ukraine, March 2023. In a letter dated May 23rd, 1988, Elizabeth A J Attridge at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in London suggested “it gives less hostages to fortune to emphasise that the food chain was safeguarded in 1986 by measures taken”. According to the draft memorandum, “the radioactive cloud” from Chernobyl passed over Northern Ireland on the weekend of May 3rd and 4th, 1986. The Northern department had been alerted by its UK-wide counterpart “to the potential problem just before the weekend” and an “action team” was set up on May 4th. To ensure unsafe levels of radiation did not enter the food chain emergency orders controlling the movement and slaughter of all sheep in those areas were introduced in September 1987.

Source: The Irish Times December 30, 2025 13:34 UTC