Fishermen did not wear lifejackets

An inquest was told yesterday that two Connemara fishermen who drowned when their boat overturned off the Co Galway coast were…

An inquest was told yesterday that two Connemara fishermen who drowned when their boat overturned off the Co Galway coast were not wearing lifejackets.

Neighbours Fechin Mulkerrin (49) and Tony Coohill (36), from Claddaghduff in Connemara, drowned when their currach overturned on the morning of April 21st this year.

The men were working just off Omey Island checking lobster pots when the tragedy occurred.

A massive search involving Clifden lifeboat and Cleggan Coast Guard, along with several local boats, was undertaken to recover the bodies of the two men.

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A postmortem revealed that both men had died from asphyxia due to drowning. West Galway coroner Dr Ciarán McLoughlin sympathised with the men’s families on their loss.