Missing Coast Guard crew ‘foremost in everybody’s mind’

The search for the missing crewmen of Irish Coast Guard Rescue 116 was on Wednesday night said to be “foremost in everybody’s mind” in the communities of Dundalk and Blackrock in Co Louth where pilot Mark Duffy hails from.

Capt Duffy, winch operator Paul Ormsby and winchman Ciarán Smith are still missing following the Irish Coast Guard helicopter crash in Co Mayo which killed their colleague, Capt Dara Fitzpatrick.

Mark Dearey, the chairman of Dundalk Municipal District, said locals were sending messages of support to Mr Duffy’s family. “It’s foremost in everybody’s mind here,” he said.

“The whole family are obviously in our thoughts and prayers and we just hope the ordeal they are going through comes to an end and they get some crumb of comfort. The location of the flight recorders is a sign that perhaps we are coming to that stage.

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Making contact

“A lot of people are making contact with the family. I was in touch with one member of the family who I know well to convey my solidarity and that of the municipal district.” Mr Dearey said the loss of the aircraft would resonate particularly in Dundalk as it is a coastal town. “As a coastal community we’re aware of the work the service does,” he said.

“We regularly have cause for that, particularly as crew and helicopter fly along Dundalk Bay or out to Carlingford. We know the work they do and we’re proud of all of them.”

The Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association said the crew of Rescue 116 had “paid the ultimate price” in terms of public service.

“The decorated crew . . . paid the ultimate price in their service to the State, and the people of Ireland should be proud to have men and women like the crew of Rescue 116 watching over them,” it said.

“We are proud to have represented members Capt Dara Fitzpatrick and Capt Mark Duffy and have offered any assistance we can in the aftermath of this tragic accident.

Investigation

“As the search for answers begins and the Air Accident Investigation Unit start their investigation we ask people to avoid speculation about the accident and concentrate on the support of those involved.”

Fine Gael MEP Mairead McGuinness said she hoped the remaining crew members would be recovered quickly.

“This is a truly devastating tragedy that is impacting the whole country and beyond,” she said. The sadness of life cut so short and the catastrophic loss for family and community is hard to come to terms with.

“All our thoughts are with them. And we hope and pray that the ongoing and impressive rescue efforts will be successful quickly in recovering Capt Fitzpatrick’s colleagues.

“What these community servants have achieved in their lives and knowing how deeply it is valued will, no doubt, be a source of consolation at this very tough time and into the future,” she said.