asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding a recent request to the RAF to airlift a person from Tory Island, County Donegal to a hospital in Derry.
Written Answers. - Airlift of Patient.
21.
Early on 8 November 1985 my Department gave diplomatic clearance for a Belfast-based helicopter to overfly the State in order to airlift a 15-year old girl with head injuries sustained in a fall, to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. However, weather conditions were very poor and the helicopter was unable to proceed with the mission. This being the case, the Arranmore lifeboat which had already proceeded to the island collected the patient and brought her to the mainland. An ambulance, which was standing by, transferred her to Letterkenny General Hospital.