Shipwreck damage lands divers in court

A MARITIME historian’s efforts to identify a 17th century wreck which hebelieved to be a historic slave ship led to his appearance in court yesterday.

Paddy O’Sullivan was one of three men charged at Cork Circuit Criminal Court over activities around the wreckage in Dunworley Bay near Bandon.

The 61-year-old from South Main Street, Bandon; Ray White, aged 63, from Kilmore, Ballinspittle, Co Cork; and 59-year-old Ron Klaus each pleaded guilty to tampering with or damaging or removing part of the wreck on a date unknown between 1999 and 2003.