Safety rules useless if not policed

Had five people been killed in a road traffic accident, including three generations of the same family, there would be no question that the Director of Public Prosecutions would instigate an investigation to establish any basis of culpability.

In the case of the tragedy of the Pisces the standard of onus cannot, and should not, be any lower than that which would apply to a tragedy of similar proportions ashore.

What occurred off the coast of Fethard-on-Sea less than 12 months ago, was, with hindsight, a disaster waiting to happen once the ill-fated boat put to sea.

That it was able to do so in an "unseaworthy condition" and "basically unstable" is an indictment of the system that pertained at the time but which, mercifully, has begun to change.

Given that this is a Bank Holiday weekend, and many people will engage in water sports, especially with the anticipated good weather, the conclusions of the report of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) are a salutary reminder of the precautions that should be taken generally, but in relation to boats in particular.

The tragedy that was the Pisces could have been twice as disastrous, but thankfully, five other people aboard the floating death-trap were rescued.

The MCIB report said the vessel did not hold a passenger boat licence and would not have qualified for one because of its poor condition and lack of safety equipment. Also, it did not carry sufficient lifesaving aappliances for everyone on board and the provision of a suitable inflatable life-raft "would have ensured that all on board might have survived".

Among recommendations contained in the report is one that unlicensed passenger vessels should be investigated and prosecuted.

Copies of the draft report, which is intrinsically the same as that published, had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions, the gardaí and the State Solicitor for Co Wexford.

The DPP had requested that publication of the report be delayed to allow him time to consider the question of possible prosecution.

Were a prosecution not put in train, it would seem to purport that the drownings were an appalling accident and somewhere in the realm of an act of God, unconnected with the serious safety defects onboard.

That, patently, according to the MCIB report was not the case and, therefore, culpability and onus must at least be investigated by the DPP's office and apportioned accordingly in cause of common justice if so warranted.

Yesterday, the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Dermot Ahern said that a wide range of safety measures and regulations had been initiated since August last year, after the tragedy.

He also promised that a new safety code for lifejackets and safety equipment for all leisure craft would be introduced shortly, and not before time.

Such measures, already implemented and yet to be introduced, are too late for the unfortunate victims of the Pisces tragedy and their families, although they have to be welcomed.

It is to point out the obvious that the introduction of safety measures of themselves is pointless unless the necessary resources are put in place to police them.

Equally, people have a responsibility towards ensuring their own safety, but they are also entitled to expect that when hiring boats, the vessels meet statutory safety requirements which have been inspected by the relevant authority.