The possibility of Osama bin Laden having his eye on the proposed gas terminal at Bellanaboy, north Mayo, might seem ridiculous but should have been addressed, a local objector told the oral hearing into the project yesterday.
"There is only one reference in the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) report to the danger of damage from terrorism. It is dismissed as being so low a risk as to be neglected," said Ms Jacinta Healy.
"We consider a terrorism attack should have been considered, considering current world events, and Shell, the parent company to Enterprise Energy Ireland, doesn't exactly have a good reputation in relation to terrorist attacks either."
As the hearing in Ballina continued into its fourth day, experts could still offer no certainties that a gas explosion would not occur as a result of operations at the plant.
Representatives of the HSA and Enterprise Energy Ireland could only reiterate that it was "extremely unlikely" a major accident would occur but there was never a certainty.
In her address to the hearing, Ms Healy said: "Assurances given at this hearing don't make the residents feel any safer or more confident about the terminal being built.
"We live in a small village. If there is a fire, help will have to come from Castlebar. I'm sure Castlebar Fire Station has no knowledge of dealing with a fire at a gas terminal.
"The fact is we will be going to bed thinking, if there is a fire there or some major explosion, am I going to be there in the morning and if I am, will I be able to live my life the same as every day now? We will never have peace of mind if that terminal is built."
She added that the HSA said there was only a low risk of a major accident happening. "They did not say there is no risk however and this is a major risk for residents. You can have all the experts you want but common sense would tell you, why put a fire in the middle of a forest plantation, for the love of God?"
Asked by Mr Jim Moore, of Dúchas, as to how an explosion would affect the environment, Mr John Colreavy, for the HSA, replied:
"Yes, in the worst case scenario there is a possibility of explosion if gas were to ignite in the plant. It is not a certainty. Its effects would depend on the size of the gas release."
He said he would not anticipate any environmental deposition of toxins in such an event. There would be a possibility the fire water container and others might fracture. He would be very surprised if the natural peat bank in the area would be destabilised.
Mr John Easey, terminal project manager, said it was extremely unlikely contaminated fire water could enter the ground water system.
"One can't be 100 per cent certain but the chance of damage to the substantial bund structures containing the fire water is minimal." He added that a detailed emergency response plan would only be fully developed by Enterprise Energy Ireland if planning permission was granted for the terminal.
The HSA accepted, after questioning by objectors, that a number of issues were worthy of further consideration. These included an assessment of the stability of the bog.
The hearing continues.