ENA PHELAN,
Sir, - As a regular user of the Shannon (most weekends) can anybody please explain how companies can hire out boats to inexperienced strangers and allow them to roam the waterways for a full week without any formal training with generally, not a life jacket in sight?
I witnessed a young boy, about 11 years old, with his leg in plaster, at the helm of a hired cruiser last Sunday week enter Victoria Lock, while the only adult sat on deck and issued instructions to this young child. Of course, of the three on board nobody wore a life jacket!
In the event of a mishap I would like to know what insurance company covers a boy of that age to be in control of a 32-foot hired vessel?
Answers please. - Yours, etc.,
ENA PHELAN, Hillview, Waterford