Honeydew inquest calls for closer monitoring

THE Government is to be asked to implement “closer monitoring” of the country’s fishing fleet for safety purposes after an inquest heard that the alarm wasn’t raised for several hours after a fishing boat sank about two years ago.

Two men were lost as a result of the sinking of the Kinsale-based Honeydew II early in the morning of January 11, 2007, and a jury yesterday returned a verdict of accidental death by drowning in relation to skipper Ger Bohan, 39, and crew member Tomasz Jagla, 33.

Another two crew members survived the tragedy, and statements on their ordeal were read out at the inquest in Dungarvan.

The jury, and coroner Dr Joseph O’Keeffe, heard the last automatic electronic communication from the Honeydew was at about 11.30pm on January 10. The signals are sent every two hours to the Vessel Monitoring System base at the naval headquarters in Haulbowline.

However, friend of Ger Bohan and skipper of fishing vessel the Rachel J, Johnny Walsh, said it was he who raised the alarm the following evening after trying to get in contact with Ger. “In the normal course of events,” said solicitor for the Bohan family, Ernest Cantillon. “The alarm would be raised by the naval services because they would be watching the screen”.

Both survivors of the sinking, Vladimir Kostyr and Viktor Losev, said they believed the Honeydew sank because its timber hull was broken by a freak wave. They had set off from Kinsale on January 10 for Dunmore East.

In a statement, Mr Kostyr said as the weather was getting worse in the morning of January 11, he heard a loud bang at the side of the boat. He then saw Ger on the radio, giving a Mayday signal.

The Honeydew then went “completely on its side” and the waves stopped he and Mr Jagla from getting to Ger. He said Mr Jagla was swept away as they were trying to get into the life raft

The coroner said accidental drowning “would seem the only obvious verdict” and asked the jury to add a rider, suggesting the minister, as recommended by representatives of the families, put “closer monitoring” in place if it can be achieved. The jury agreed.