Kayakers died at weir where lifesaving devices were damaged

TWO kayakers lost their lives at a dangerous weir where lifesaving equipment had been damaged by vandals and was not replaced, a marine casualty investigation revealed.

The weir at Portlaw in Co Waterford which claimed the lives of the two men — Connie Smith and Philip Kelly — last year has been described by investigators as “dangerous and unnavigable” and should not be used in its current form.

The finding was made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) in its report into the tragedy on April 7 of last year.