Jet ski shouldn’t have been used by boy

THE teenage boy who died in a jet ski accident in Youghal, Co Cork, should have been forbidden under regulations to operate the privately-owned, high-powered pleasure craft.

Patrick Daly, 15, from Greencloyne, Youghal, was not the owner of the jet ski. The owner, who lives in the vicinity of the harbour town, was yesterday interviewed as gardaí and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board commenced separate inquiries.

The jet ski was involved in a collision with a speed boat towing a dinghy. Local builder Michael Murray, 36, from Blackwater Heights, at the controls of the speed boat, remained in a stable condition in Cork University Hospital last night after sustaining serious leg and pelvis injuries.

A third person, Martin Pierce, from Knockaverry, who was in the dinghy, was shocked but unharmed.

The deceased, a student at Coláiste Eoin Eochaill, was wearing a lifejacket and wet suit when the accident occurred. He was the eldest son of Mary and Patrick Daly, a presenter of Community Radio Youghal.

Youghal Town Council was planning to implement stringent bye-laws next month to control and restrict pleasure craft within the harbour, which boasts two Blue Flag beaches.

The collision occurred at Greenquay on the borderline of a stretch of water restricting jet skis under a code of practice drawn up five years ago between the harbour authorities and a national pleasure craft organisation.

The accident sparked calls for greater enforcement of marine safety regulations introduced two years ago.

Under the act, an age restriction regulation applies to the operator of jet skis and other pleasure craft.

The Merchant Shipping Regulations states that all reasonable steps should be taken to ensure that a person under 16 should not operate or be in control of mechanically-propelled craft. Gardaí said the investigation was at a preliminary stage, while an inspector from the Marine Casualty Investigation Board has a statutory period of nine months to complete his inquiries and issue recommendations. Fine Gael marine spokesperson Simon Coveney said yesterday: “it’s a terrible tragedy and this is not the time for a knee-jerk reaction. However, the legislators need to respond by recognising that more people are utilising harbours and inland waterways for work and pleasure activities.” Youghal Town Clerk Liam Ryan said draft bye-laws were drawn up for the harbour after it became clear the agreed code of practice was not being adhered to by some pleasure craft operators.

After draft bye-law proposals were presented at an early June meeting of the council, the summer months were set aside for a period of public consultation. He expected the bye-laws to be adopted at a September 8 meeting.

Earlier this month, Marine Minister Dermot Ahern also announced a new code of practice on water safety, and particularly the use of pleasure craft.

Meanwhile, fisherman Denis McCarthy who recovered the teenager’s body and plucked Mr Murray to safety said yesterday: “I just did what I had to do. I heard a loud bang and saw people in the water. The speed boat was still circling at speed. It was an horrific sight, one I’ll not forget that easy.

Youghal lifeboat recovered the speed boat, which continued to circle for almost two hours after the accident before it ran out of fuel.