Written Answers. - Damage to Merchant Ships. – Dáil Éireann (12th Dáil) – Wednesday, 23 Oct 1946

Written Answers. - Damage to Merchant Ships.

Mr. M.E. Dockrell

asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state how many merchant ships, flying the Irish flag, were (a) lost, or (b) damaged, by action, known or presumed, of any of the belligerents in the late war; the names of such ships; whether outward or inward bound when the incident occurred; the approximate date and location of the occurrence in each case; the number of lives lost; the occasion of the loss or damage, whether by torpedo, mine, aerial bomb or shell fire; which belligerent was involved, if ascertained; and whether in each case the loss or damage was admitted by such belligerent and compensation promised or paid.

Mr. Lemass

The information requested, as far as it is available, is given in the following tables:—

STATEMENT No. 1.

IRISH SHIPS DAMAGED BY ACTION, KNOWN OR PRESUMED, OF ANY OF THE BELLIGERENTS DURING THE WAR OF 1939-45.

SHIP	Outward or Inward Bound	Date	Location	Lives Lost	Cause of Damage	Belligerent	Claim made and result
1. S.S.“KERRY HEAD”	Inward to Limerick from Swansea.	1/8/40	Off Kinsale	None	Aerial attack	German	Responsibility admitted by German Government and compensation paid
2. M.V.“LOCH RYAN”	Inward to Arklow from Falmouth, Cornwall.	16/8/40	West Coast of Cornwall.	None	Aerial attack	German	Facts admitted by German Government but liability disclaimed on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. Al. rights to compensation reserved.
3. S.S. “KOSMOS”	Fishing	27/9/40	North of Scotland	None	Aerial attack	German	do.
4. M.V.“EDENVALE”	Inward to Dublin from Limerick.	17/10/40	Coast of Waterford	None	Aerial attack	German	German Government disclaimed knowledge. All rights to compensation reserved.
5. S.S.“LANAHRONE”	At anchor	20/12/40	Liverpool	None	Masonry blown on ship during airraid.	Presumed German	No claim as damage caused by airraid on Mersey area.
6. S.S.“MENAPIA”	Inward to Cork from Cardiff.	27/2/41	Bristol Channel	None	Mine	Not known	No claim made
7. S.S.“GLENCREE”	Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan.	21/3/41	Bristol Channel	None	Aerial attack	German	German Government disclaimed liability on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved.
8. S.S.“GLENCULIEN”	Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan.	21/3/41	Bristol Channel	None	Aerial attack	German	do.
9. S.S.“THE LADY BELLE”	Outward from Dungarvan to Cardiff.	26/3/41	Bristol Channel	None	Aerial attack	German	do.
10. M.V.“EDENVALE”	Inward to Rosslare from Cardiff.	27/3/41	Welsh Coast	None	Aerial attack	German	do.
11. M.V.“DUNDALK”	At anchor	5/5/41	River Mersey	None	Air-raid on Mersey area.	Presumed German	No claim as damaged caused by airraid on Mersey area.
12. S.S.“MENAPIA”	Inward to Rosslare from Port Talbot, Glamorgan.	12/5/41	Welsh Coast	None	Aerial attack	Not known	No claim made
13. S.S. “ASSAROE”	Outward from Dublin to Douglas, I.O.M.	15/5/41	Off Howth	None	Aerial attack	German	German Government disclaimed knowledge and liability, stating that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved.
14. S.S. “GLENAGEARY”	Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan.	17/5/41	Welsh Coast	None	Aerial attack	Not known	No claim made.
15. S.S. “CITY OF WATERFORD”	Outward from Dublin to Cardiff	19/5/41	Bristol Channel	None	Aerial attack	German sumed German	German Government disclaimed ledge and liability.
16. S.S. “KYLECLARE”	Outward from Limerick to Liverpool	30/5/41	Coast of Waterford	None	Aerial attack	German	German Government disclaimed ability on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping in German declaration of the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved.
17. M.V.“KERLOGUE”	Inward to Wexford from Swansea.	7/10/41	cardigan Bay	None	Mine	Not known	No claim made.
18. M.V. “EDENVALE”	Outward from Cardiff to Lisbon.	16/10/41	Coast of Cork	None	Aerial attack	Presumed German.	German Government disclaimed know ledge. All rights to compensation reserved.
19. S.S. “GLENAGEARY”	Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan.	25/10/41	Off Arklow	None	Aerial attack	German	do.
20. S.S. “MARGARET LOCKINGTON.”	Outward from Newry to Swansea.	26/10/41	Coast of Waterford	None	Aerial attack	Not known	No claim made.
21. S.S. “LANAHRONE”	Inward to Dublin from Vigo, Spain.	29/10/41	Off Saltee Islands	None	Aerial attack	Not known	No claim made.
22. S.S. “GLENCREE”	Inward to Dublin from Newport, Mon.	5/11/41	Welsh Coast	None	Aerial attack	German	German Government disclaimed knowledge. All rights to compensation reserved.
23. S.S. “GLENCULLEN”	Inward to Dublin from Barry, Glamorgan.	5/11/41	Welsh Coast	None	Aerial attack	German	do.
24. M.V. “KERLOGUE”	Outward from Rosslare to Oporto.	23/10/43	Coast of Cork	None	Aerial attack	British	Ex gratia compensation paid.

STATEMENT NO. II.

IRISH SHIPS LOST BY ACTION, KNOWN OR PRESUMED, OF ANY OF THE BELLIGERENTS DURING THE WAR OF 1939-1945.

SHIP	Outward or Inward Bound	Date	Location	Lives Lost	Cause of Loss	Belligerent	Claim Made and Result
1. M.V. “MUNSTER”	Outward from Belfast to Liverpool	7/2/40	Near Liverpool	1 as result of injuries	Mine	Not Known	No claim made. Vessel was chartered to British interests and plying between Belfast and Liverpool.
2. S.S. “LEUROS”	Inward to Dublin from Donegal Bay.	12/3/40	North Coast of Ireland	11	Not known	Not known	No claim made.
3. S.S. “CITY OF LIMERICK”	Inward to Liverpool from Cartagena, Spain	15/7/40	West Coast of France	2	Aerial Bomb	Doubtful, presumed German	No claim made. Vess Cargo from Iberian to English port.
4. S.S. “MEATH”	Outward from Dublin to Liverpool.	15/8/40	Near Holyhead	None	Mine	Not known	No claim made.
5. S.S. “LUIMNEACH”	Inward to Drogheda from Huelva, Spain	4/9/40	Coast of Spain	None	Shell fire	Presumed Italian	Italian and other belligerent aut ties disclaimed all knowledge.
6. S.S. “KERRY HEAD”	Outward from Limerick to Newport, Mon	22/10/40	Near Castletownbere	12	Aerial bomb	Presumed German.	German government disclaimed ledge and liability, stating ship in zone declared dangerous to shipping on the 17th August, 1940. All rights to compensation reserved.
7. S.S. “ARDMORE”	Outward from Cork to Fishguard.	12/11/40	Irish Sea	24	Not known	Not known	No claim made.
8. S.S. “INGIDA”	Outward from Rosslare to lightships off Wexford Coast.	19/12/40	Off Wexford	6	Aerial bomb	Presumed German.	No claim made.
9. M.V. “INNISFALLEN”	Inward to Dublin from Liverpool.	21/12/40	River Mersey	4	Mine	Not known	No claim made.
10. S.S. “ST. FINTAN”	Outward from Drogheda to Cardiff.	22/3/41	Bristol Channel	9	Aerial bomb	Doubtful, presumed German.	German Government disclaimed know ledge and liability, stating ship in zone declared dangerous to shipping on the 17th August, 1940.
11. S.S. “CLONLARA”	Outward from Cardiff to Lisbon.	22/3/41	Coast of Spain	11	Torpedo	Presumed German.	No claim made. Vessel sailing in British Convoy.
12. S.S. “CITY OF BREMEN”	Inward to Dublin from Lisbon	2/6/42	Bay of Biscay	None	Aerial bomb	German	German Government admitted responsibility but declined liability on ground that ship was in zone declared dangerous to shipping on the 17th August 1940. All rights to compensation reserved.
13. S.S.“IRISH PINE”	Outward from Dublin to Boston.	15/11/42	North American Coast.	33	Not definitely established.	Not definitely established.	No claim made.
14. S.S. “KYLECLARE”	Inward to Dublin from Lisbon.	Last heard of 20/2/43	Between Lisbon and Dublin	18	Not known	Not known	No claim made.
15. S.S. “IRISH OAK”	Inward to Dublin from Tampa, Florida.	15/5/43	North Atlantic	None	Torpedo	Not definitely established.	No claim made.
16. M.V. “CYMRIC”	Outward from Dublin to Lisbon.	Last heard of 24/2/44	Between Dublin and Lisbon.	11	Not known	Not known	No claim made.
17. F.S. “NAOMH CARBHAN”	Fishing	3/5/45	Coast of Waterford	3	Mine	Not known	No claim made.

Dáil Éireann debate - Wednesday, 23 Oct 1946