Failure to wear lifejackets, lack of adequate buoyancy and shifting weight on board an old vessel contributed to the loss of four lives in a sea angling accident off Co Louth four years ago.
The Marine Casualty Investigation Board's report into the capsize of a pleasure craft at Dunany Point, Co Louth, on August 29th, 1999, also finds that "common sense risk analysis" was not carried out, or adhered to, during the fatal voyage. Two of the four who died were children, while one of four survivors owes his life to a 12-year-old girl who assisted him in the water.
James Russell (69), Stuart Callaghan (20), Paul Callaghan (12) and Tom Óg Callaghan (8) lost their lives when a 15-foot fibreglass open-decked boat capsized several hours after a group of eight, four adults and four children, had set out on a sea angling trip on the afternoon of Sunday, August 29th, 1999. None of the five buoyancy aids on board were worn during the outing, when weather was reported to be fine with a slight sea and low swell.
The group had caught about 30 mackerel, and their vessel was between a half and one mile east-south-east of Dunany Point when it is understood that some of those on board decided to change places. One of the group stumbled and fell, causing others to move, and the shift in weight caused the boat to capsize.
All eight ended up in the water, and Sarah (10) and Maeve McGuinness (12) managed to reach the boat and stay with it, as did Gary Grant (48), a non-swimmer who was assisted by Maeve McGuinness.
John Russell (37), part owner and skipper, also assisted those in the water and then set out for shore to raise the alarm.
At this point, Stuart Callaghan and Tom Óg Callaghan were trying to cling to a buoyancy aid, and Paul Callaghan was trying to stay afloat on his back.
However, it took John Russell the best part of two hours to reach the shore, and the group became separated in the water.
Maeve and Sarah McGuinness and Gary Grant were subsequently winched on board by the Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter. The Clogherhead lifeboat recovered the body of James Russell and also found Paul Callaghan but were unable to rescuscitate him. The bodies of Stuart Callaghan and Tom Óg Callaghan were found some days later.
The report records criticism by some relatives of the Irish Marine Emergency Service for failing to respond quickly enough, and notes that there are some discrepancies on recorded times of events. However, it says the records indicate that the Coast Guard "effected a positive and systematic response".
The report notes that the boat did not, and was not required to, comply with an EU directive on recreational craft, due to its age.
The boat had no added buoyancy or appropriate means of flotation when swamped, but the current model on sale is fitted with such buoyancy and complies with EU directive. Apart from failure to wear lifejackets, there was also no means of communication on board.
Movement of sheep was the main cause of a marine accident off the north Mayo coast two years ago in which a teenage boy lost his life. The body of Anthony Lavelle (14) still hasn't been found since his father's vessel, the 33ft Sea Swallow, sank during the five-mile journey from Frenchport in Mayo to Inishkea North Island on July 27th, 2001.
A Marine Casualty Investigation Board report into the case said Mr Tony Lavelle and his son were delivering about 50 full-grown shorn ewes to the island for summer pasture when the accident happened. Mr Lavelle was rescued by a local fishing vessel and transferred to an Air Corps helicopter.
The MCIB report says the primary "likely" cause of the sinking was movement of sheep to one side and towards the stern, which led to progressive flooding and loss of stability. It recommends that carriage of livestock be highlighted as a particularly hazardous activity.
