Drowning victims’ boat may have been unsuitable

A HARD-HITTING preliminary report into a drowning tragedy, which claimed five lives this summer, suggests the vessel the group travelled in was unsuitable for sea expeditions.

Five people, including three generations of one family, died when the Pisces went down a mile-and-a-half off the coast of Wexford on July 28.

The inquiry was conducted by inspectors from the maritime safety inspectorate in the Department of the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

The preliminary report was given to the families of the victims mid-way through this week and they now have a month to examine it and make their response to the department.

Their comments will then be included in the report which will go to Minister Dermot Ahern. Mr Ahern will then decide what action, if any, should be taken.

None of the recommendations have yet been made public and the families who have been given the report have declined to comment on it.

Among those who died were funeral director Jim Cooney, 60; his son in law, Seamus Doyle, 33, and grandson Mark Doyle, aged 13. The family said yesterday the report was confidential and they cannot discuss it.

The boat sank in foggy conditions close to Selskar. John Cullen, 45, from Rosbercon, also in New Ross, and Martin Roche, 66, a bus-driver from Galbally, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford also died in the tragedy.

Five people survived. An

inquest in October heard those who lost their lives died from asphyxiation as a result of drowning.