Boat’s capsizing blamed on unsuitable conditions

An investigation into how a boat ferrying tourists on a Killarney lake capsized, throwing all on board into the water, has concluded that the voyage from Ross Castle to the Gap of Dunloe was carried out in unsuitable weather conditions and the skipper made no attempt to contact the emergency services.

In its report, the Marine Casualty Investigation Board described the incident on Lough Leane which occurred on September 1 last year as “serious marine casualty, which posed the threat of death or serious injury” to all those on board the boat.

The incident occurred shortly after 12 passengers and skipper of the PV Mary Ann of Dunloe set out on Lough Leane from one of the piers near Ross Castle for the traditional boat trip through the three Killarney lakes.