Coastguard saved 405 people and pays tribute to tragic volunteer

In a year in which an Irish Coast Guard volunteer died in the course of duty, the service says it has rescued or assisted 405 people in 2016.

Doolin unit member Catriona Lucas was the first volunteer member of the coastguard to lose her life on operational service, having been involved in a search off Clare in September.

Acting coastguard director Eugene Clonan, in an end-of-year report issued yesterday, commended all the staff and volunteers who contributed to the many missions undertaken in 2016.