Inquests into the deaths of four Dublin people in a yachting accident during the city's delayed St Patrick's Day celebrations in May have been adjourned until next month.
Mr Mark Styles (39), Knocklyon Close, his brother Mr Glen Styles (42), Church View Road, Killiney, Ms Eleanor Cullen (43), Kerrymount Rise, Foxrock, and Mr Rowan Smith (48), Hazelbrook Road, Terenure, drowned after their boat, Debonair, collided with a cargo boat, the Bluebird, at about 3.45 a.m. on May 20th in a shipping channel in Dublin port.
Dublin city coroner Dr Brian Farrell opened the inquests into their deaths yesterday to officially certify the causes of death so that death certificates might be issued.
A Garda investigation into the matter has not yet been completed but the file will be ready in weeks, Garda Supt Derek Byrne told the coroner.
Investigations are also being completed by the Dublin Port Company and the Department of the Marine.
The coroner said there was no formal application from the Garda for an adjournment. However, he did not intend to complete his inquiries yesterday. He would examine the Garda file when it was completed to establish what witnesses were appropriate to the substantive hearing.
The coroner heard evidence from Mr Albert Styles, father of the two brothers who died. He identified the body of his son Mark to the Garda on May 20th following the accident. Mr Smith's body was identified by his brother Mr Philip Smith and Ms Cullen's body was identified by her husband, Mr Jan Smith.
Mr Glen Styles's body was not recovered from the sea until June 8th, however.
All four victims drowned, post-mortem examinations carried out by deputy State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy established. Dr Farrell adjourned the inquests to October 24th.