Coastguard boat recovered hours before removal of Caitríona Lucas

Hours before the removal took place of the volunteer coastguard who died in the line of duty on Monday, the wreckage of the Irish Coast Guard rescue boat was recovered.

Caitríona Lucas, a 41-year old mother-of-two, became the first member of the volunteer service to lose her life when the Delta Rib (rigid inflatable boat) suddenly capsized throwing its crew of three into the sea.

A member of the Doolin unit of the service, Caitríona had been searching for missing Clare man David McMahon when the accident happened. She was on board the Kilkee Delta Rib along with two members of the local unit, Jenny Carway and James Lucey. Three days after the tragedy, members of the Garda Water Unit recovered debris from the sea where the tragedy occurred.