British investigators won’t join Maggie B probe

THE British Marine Accident Investigation Branch will not take any part in the inquiry into how a Cork registered boat sank off the Wexford coast in 2006 claiming two lives.

The Maggie B was on its maiden voyage after being renovated when it sank 8.6km south of the Wexford coastline in March 2006.

The crew had hauled in the nets when the boat began taking on water and a distress signal was released at about 11pm.

The 15-metre trawler disappeared beneath the water in just 90 seconds.

Skipper Glynn Cott and crew member Jan Sankowski both died.

A third crew member Krzysztof Pawtowski from Poland, was found clinging to a life raft.

For 18 months the vessel remained at the bottom of the ocean until last month it was finally raised.

Calls had been made for international involvement in the inquiry into the sinking and the British Marine Accident Investigation Branch had been suggested since the vessel previously sank in British waters.

The vessel capsized off the British coast in 1993 and was later brought to Ireland where it was modified.

There are claims it was not fully surveyed after those modifications.

The MAIB refused to become involved in the investigation saying it was not empowered to investigate the sinking because the Maggie B has Irish registration and the incident occurred in Irish waters.

However, Fr Peadar O’Callaghan, parish priest of Ballycotton, where Glynn Cott’s family live, called on the MAIB to rethink its decision saying it would give the families of the deceased better confidence if Ireland’s Marine Casualty Investigation Board was given full-time support in its assessment.