THE HEALTH Service Executive has ordered that all 2006 model Mercedes ambulances in its fleet be returned to authorised garages for inspection following four incidents in the past year where vehicles burst in to flames.
The most recent occurrence was last Monday night at Tulleskar near Drogheda, Co Louth. An ambulance crew was returning to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital when their vehicle burst into flames and was destroyed. The crew escaped uninjured.
Last month another ambulance mysteriously caught fire at the K-Club in Co Kildare.
It is understood the possible fault only involves Mercedes Sprinter models built in 2006. The move followed a request from the manufacturer to have the vehicles checked out as a precaution.
Mercedes-Benz launched an “urgent investigation” into similar incidents in Wales. It told ambulance officials there that there was no need to take its new £16 million fleet out of service and the issue was resolved after a minor modification.