Sir, - I wish to place on record my personal sadness and that of the members and directors of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation on the tragic deaths of the four Air Corps crew members at Tramore, Co Waterford on July 2nd.
As has been properly said by many, these were brave young men who had chosen to follow a heroic career. They died in a shroud of fog on a lonely beach after another successful mission.
We in the fishing industry owe much to the personnel of the Air Corps who have many times braved appalling conditions on the high seas to pluck to safety the injured, the ill and those in peril of their lives from fire or the elements. This organisation and individual fishermen have expressed on many occasions our gratitude and admiration for the work of these courageous crews. At a time like this our remarks are more in the nature of a final salute.
In years to come, their families will take some comfort from the knowledge that these men were the cream of their generation and the pride of their country. Now, however, the pain and the loss blot out the sun. Our thoughts and our prayers are with them in their grief. To the families and friends of Captain Dave O'Flaherty (30), Captain Mick Baker (28), Sergeant Paddy Mooney (34) and Corporal Niall Byrne (24), we express our heartfelt condolences. - Yours, etc.,
Joey Murrin, Chief Executive, Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, Co Donegal.