Fishing tragedy - A family devastated

Fishing communities may be more familiar than the rest of us with fatal tragedies at sea but that does not mean they are any less heartbreaking.

Wednesday’s terrible accident off Waterford, when three brothers — Paul (50), Kenny (47) and Shane Bolger (45) from Passage East — lost their lives took an awful toll on a small community and a devastating toll on their family.

The cause of the tragedy remains unknown but already one lesson is clear. These were experienced, professional fishermen who had worked on the sea all of their lives yet they — despite wearing life jackets — were lost. This tragedy reminds us all that anyone using a boat must be fully prepared and act responsibly. But, as this tragedy shows, even that may not be enough.