Vol. 403 No. 5
14 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Tourism and Transport if, in relation to the Aer Lingus Viscount which crashed off the Wexford coast in 1968 with the loss of 61 lives, any traces of explosives were found on the wreckage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The accident involving the Aer Lingus Viscount aircraft near Tuskar Rock, County Wexford on 24 March 1968, was the subject of an intensive investigation by an inspector of accidents of my Department.
The inspector's report, which was published, considered the possibility of an explosion as the cause of the accident. The wreckage recovered was subjected to detailed examination by explosives experts. No evidence was found that could lead to the conclusion that the cause of the accident was an explosion. In his report the inspector stated that the evidence derived from the investigation of the wreckage and the post-mortem enabled a number of primary causes of accidents, including an explosion, to be virtually discounted as highly improbable.
The inspector in his report covered the widest possible range of causes for the accident — including the possibility of collision with another aircraft or airborne object — but found that there was not enough evidence on which to reach a conclusion of reasonable probability as to the cause of the accident.
There is nothing that I could add to the inspector's report.
My question was whether there was any information or evidence of explosives on the wreckage. I was not referring just to the inquiry and the inspector's report. Has any information regarding traces of explosives come to the Department at any time? I have strong reason to believe that information regarding traces of explosives in the wreckage should have reached the Department. If the Minister does not know of such information, will he have another look at the matter? If traces of explosives are known to have been involved in the wreckage, will he reopen the inquiry into the cause of the accident?
The inspector found no evidence that could lead to the conclusion that the cause of the accident was an explosion. I will certainly inquire about the information which the Deputy says is in my Department. If I can locate such information I will then think about it.
Did the inspector look into the possibility of the aircraft having been struck by a missile from North Wales? Was that part of the inspector's remit?
I pointed out that it was a very broad inquiry which included consideration of the possibility that the aircraft was struck by an airborne object.
