Ireland Asbestos News: Limerick Man Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

28 Jan 2026

When you consider that asbestos has been banned from use in Irish construction since the late 1990s, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s no longer a threat. However, as Michael McMahon’s story shows us, it’s a material that can seriously affect your health decades after the exposure first occurred.

Asbestos removal in Ireland is an ongoing issue because the material is still hidden away in thousands of older buildings across the country. As such, when asbestos is discovered or even suspected as being present, it should be left to the experts.

Mr McMahon: A Plasterer in the 70’s & 80’s 

Michael McMahon is a Limerick man who worked as a plasterer in Ireland throughout the seventies and eighties. During this time, he regularly cut and handled materials that contained asbestos. No one warned him about the risks, and dust got everywhere. He breathed it in every day, not thinking twice about it.

After retiring, he lived happily until the 2020s, but then, some 40 years after first getting exposed, he started feeling unwell. Tests were carried out, and he was given a diagnosis of mesothelioma - a very aggressive form of cancer linked to asbestos.

Why Does Asbestos Exposure Take So Long to Show Up?

The reason asbestos is so dangerous is that you can feel completely fine for years after coming into contact with asbestos fibres in the air. The material gets lodged in the lungs, causing damage that goes unnoticed, but eventually turns into diseases like lung cancer and asbestosis. 

By the time symptoms appear, the damage is irreversible. That's why proper asbestos surveys and professional asbestos removal are critical. If you're planning work on a building constructed before the ban, you need to know whether the material is present before anyone starts drilling, cutting, or knocking down walls. 

Asbestos surveyors can tell you whether any exists on the property being worked on, and assess the overall risk, while licensed asbestos companies can remove it safely without putting anyone in danger. Proceed in any other way and you risk more cases like Mr McMahon’s in the future.

Always Get Professional Help With Asbestos Removal & Disposal 

This story in the Irish Examiner is a reminder that asbestos exposure is often insidious, leaving the person blissfully unaware that anything has happened. That is, until perhaps decades down the line when asbestosis, mesothelioma and other conditions appear. Once that occurs, it’s far too late to do anything about it.

If you suspect asbestos might be present in your building or one about to be worked on, STOP. It’s time to call the OHSS experts. We can help you ensure that no one is unnecessarily at risk. For information, browse our site or call us on 01 6905907 today.

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