THE seven year old boy who drowned in a weekend boating accident has been named as Andrew Byrne, from Muirhevna, Dundalk, Co Louth. He was one of three children and four adults on an 18 foot fibreglass cabin cruiser which capsized on Sunday afternoon in Dundalk Bay.
The other passengers were rescued by local fishing boats and emergency services.
The seven were out mackerel fishing when the boat, which had two outboard engines, got into difficulties. One of the rescuers, local fisherman Mr Gussie Sheelan, said the boat was swamped after the anchor moved round to the stern, dragging the craft into the water. It sank so fast the passengers, all wearing lifejackets, had no time to send up a flare or radio for help.
The rescue operation was launched after Mr Malachy Matthews from Tallanstown, Dundalk, swam to shore at Gyles Quay outside Dundalk and raised the alarm. The Clogherhead lifeboat, gardai and Greenore coastal rescue service were alerted. An Alouette Air Corps helicopter from Baldonnel flew to the scene.
Mr Sheelan's nephew rescued Andrew and his father, Mr Anthony Byrne, who were clinging to a buoy. Andrew was flown to Dundalk Hospital where he died a few hours later. The boat was owned by Mr Martin McCabe of Bishops Court, Dundalk. The other passengers were his daughter Claire (5), Mr Matthews's son, Barry (11) and Mr Niall Moran from Dundalk.